Black Light Theatre Animato, in Prague - 4/15/06
Wednesday, May 17th, 2006 by AnniWhile on holiday in Prague, I noticed a number of theatres in the city center offering performances in “Black Theatre” or more specifically, “Black Light Theatre.” Clearly aimed at the large tourist crowds in the city, it advertises itself as a “nonverbal performance” (so no language barrier), using dance, music, mime, comedy, acting, and puppets. Having never seen this type of performance before, I thought it would be an interesting cultural experience. And oh boy was it interesting!
This particular show was an homage to the Beatles and their music, and to their film Yellow Submarine. The story centered around two characters, who begin the play as an elderly couple. We are quickly pulled back into time, where the story of their early years is told. What is amazing is that there is a clear story being told. Missed connections, then eventually getting together, only to be separated when the boy goes off to war, and then reunion. It was surprisingly political, actually. Fundamentally a romantic tale, all told with the aid of music and visuals.
The music is an ethereal mix of synthesizer background sounds, and classic Beatles tunes. The actors never speak or sing, but use movement and dance alone to tell their story. This particular production transports you to the psychedelic world of the 1960s with its trippy visuals. Almost everything on the stage has been painted with black light glow paint, which the actors also wear on their bodies (painted on their costumes). Puppeteers, wearing head to toe blacks, manipulate everything on stage so everything springs to life. They create a trippy visual experience. For example, a huge, neon butterfly gracefully flies across the stage and lands on an actresses shoulder. What you don’t see is the puppeteer in black, manipulating the puppet behind her. Everything is oversized, neon colored, and cartooney. Every once in a great while, you could tell that there was someone back there, but most of the time they were totally invisible. Another cool trick was when the lead actress appeared to be floating and flying through the air. She was actually sitting (or harnessed?) to a see-saw contraption behind her that was being manipulated by the puppeteers. They were incredibly busy throughout - constantly moving things around the stage; props, signs, furniture, and creepy Beatles marionettes.
This is definitely one of the weirdest things I’ve ever seen in my life. But I loved the experience! The actors did a really nice job, and were clearly trained in dance and physical comedy. The ensemble dancers weren’t the best I’ve ever seen but they were very committed to the show. The puppetters had the hardest job of all, and were great. The concept is very simple yet very effective, and creates a visual experience that’s accessible to people from all over the world. Very smart, Czech theatre makers!
