MuseArts Guinea Pig Theater
Particularly Pleasurable Plays
When you watched guinea pigs running around a cage when you were a child, did you ever wonder whether they could think great thoughts? Maybe they ran around those exercise wheels out of frustration in being locked up. Maybe they would have been great thespians if given half a chance.
Fortunately, there is now a website that demonstrates what guinea pigs can do. It is created by MuseArts, which specializes in creative digital design for web and multimedia. Unlike some cartoon sites that are best viewed by those who have a scatological sense of humor and who enjoy animation in which someone is always killed, with blood spilled all over the scene, these appeal to a more sophisticated audience.
You will notice that the Guinea Pig Theater is high-class theatre, so if you have a school report to make on one of these plays, just watch these and you'll be able to discussion them clearly and intelligently (more or less).
In any case, these guinea pig plays provide you an opportunity to take a break from computer stress.
Pygmalian
This is what MuseArts has to say about the Pygmalian and Galatea! play:
Pigs is Pygmalion! You're probably wondering what took us so long. Six months to mount a two man play with no scenery or stagecraft to speak of. Well, I'm sorry, but have you looked at the sculpture? Our technical director is a true genius. And that's not to mention the incredible depth and nuance of the co-leads of this...er, never mind. We hope you enjoy the latest production of Guinea Pig Theater in Pygmalian and Galatea!
Prometheus Bound
Here is MuseArts' website description of the Prometheus Bound guinea pig play:
The Guinea Pig theater series by MuseArts debuted with its production of Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound. Spunky plays the starring role in this one-man production of Prometheus, who alone dares to defy the hand of God, and pays the price.
You may remember that in this classic Greek tragedy, Prometheus has angered the gods for his well-publicized theft of fire, and finds himself chained to a rock with an eagle plucking at his liver. In the end, Prometheus is cast into the abyss. Ah, life!
The Sound of Music
The MuseArts website notes this about The Sound of Music play:
"Things are always a bit frantic in the early Spring. While the Pigs work on their next big production, here's one from the vaults: a dress rehearsal from an earlier GP Theater project, The Sound of Music. This one's a little different: you can direct the Pigs yourself, and if you're lucky, rearrange them for different choral effects.
Our very first Guinea Pig theater 'Interactive'!"
Romeo and Juliet Guinea Pig Theater
The MuseArts has outdone themselves in this production of Romeo and Juliet. The Guinea Pig Theater presentation of the classic tale of love and tragedy is told, as the creators of the cartoon note, "with understated sensitivity and pathos. Sniff."
Waiting for Godot
MuseArts writes in the introduction to this piece:
Many people view this play as one in which nothing whatsoever happens. Clearly, if you're hold this view, you have missed the existential boat that Samuel Beckett so poignantly explores in this modern classic. Since guinea pigs excel at waiting, among other things, who better to bring this masterpiece to life than Guinea Pig Theater!
Sit back, enjoy a carrot, and experience Waiting For Godot as you never have before."
Everyman
MuseArts writes:
In honor of the new-ish millennium, we bring you Everyman, a morality play from the Dark Ages. In case you're unfamiliar with the play, our hero, Everyman, is going about his business when Death appears to him, telling him that the end is near. Fearful about his imminent day of reckoning, Everyman consults with the resources he has at his disposal, namely his friends and family, but none can avert or delay his inevitable encounter with the Big Guy.
A Christmas Carol
MuseArts writes:
Spunky and the gang have long been fans of Dickens A Christmas Carol, and are pleased to bring you, in this first year of the new millennium [this was created in 2000], their highly festive interpretation of this timeless classic. The stage designers worked overtime on special effects for this one, but we think the superb ensemble cast really carry the show.
Join us as we salute the season with this wonderful production of A Christmas Carol with which we hope, as Dickens put it, "to haunt your houses pleasantly." Merry Christmas!
Tartuffe
MuseArts writes that:
Tartuffe by Molière has long been a favorite of the actors of Guinea Pig theater, but such a hefty production has previously been beyond the means of this modest company. Moreover, the pigs themselves felt that they were not yet ready to tackle the subtleties of the plot. But at last, they have managed to pull it off. Eight months (perhaps longer) in the making, this play took countless hours of tireless labor to perfect. We think they have it right.
Enjoy this timeless tale of a good pig duped by an evil impostor, and his clever servant Spunky who saves the day. Will good triumph over evil yet again? We have a feeling it will.
© Copyright 2005, Arlene Harder, MA, MFT |
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