"ROBINSON CRUSOE - ALL WASHED UP"
THE SHOW IN BRIEF: Using this well known story as the backbone for this piece of total theatre - incorporating theatrical elements such as music, dance, song, spectacle and special effects, Rougier creates imaginative and beautiful imagery as part of an engaging and witty commentary on what it's like to be alone. The songs are accompanied by an accordion; the action by an enormous blue sheet.
GENRE: Movement theatre + Musical Cabaret + Physical Storytelling
SHOW LENGTH: 60 minutes, no interval
VIDEO TRAILER:
SHOW PHOTOS: Click HERE for gallery
PRESS REVIEWS: Play "Pot Luck Press Review"! As an objective overview of the published reviews from theTheatre Critics/Sports Reporters/Guy drafted in, I give you all I could find - good and terrible...
Orlando Weekly Orlando Sentinel The Ledger North Devon Journal CBCWinnipeg Winnipeg Free Press The Star Phoenix Edmonton Journal
DOWNLOADS:
CRUSOE POSTER 300dpi
THE BOOK: Sometimes regarded as the first novel in English, Robinson Crusoe's themes of alienation and isolation, imperialism and multiculturalism struck me as being remarkably relevant for today. My first priority in adapting the book however was to make an entertaining piece of theatre - so humour abounds. The Crusoe character has been a challenge to bring to the stage because he comes off the page as rather stiff, socially awkward and pugnacious. I haven't needed to 'act' his part much... Anyway, compared to the films I have seen based on the book this is a fairly straight adaptation. For better or worse, you decide.
SHOW BACK STORY
In October 2007 I was invited to perform at a scratch theatre night in Manchester, UK. I flew over form Germany and after my performance, met Jo on the stairs who had performed one of her monologues that night. "Had you thought of putting a show together for the North American Fringe Theatre Network? I think they'd love your work and it's great fun!". She said. I love a 'on the stairs moment' and thanks to Jo's advice and kindness I had a plan for 2008.
A night around Andrew's kitchen table produced an ideal one-man show subject: a castaway who lived alone for 28 years. But what sort of show was it going to be?
(I've come from an conceptual art background: Process is important to me!)
At the time I was particularly interested in adding more visual elements to my performance, due in part to my experiences of living and working abroad and my desire to rely less on English text in communicating with an audience. It was this search for an universal theatrical language that led me to study corporeal mime in London at the International School of Corporeal Mime and physical storytelling privately through Desmond Jones. So, it's a mixture of song, instrumental, mime, pantomime, storytelling and perhaps even a bit of art. Whatever it is, I hope it is a solid piece of entertainment because if you paid to see it, I will try to make you laugh.
CREDITS
Created and performed: Fergus Rougier
Based on the novel "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe
Creative Consultant: Desmond Jones
Recorded music produced: Rob Barter
Artwork: John Trice at Kinky Mambo
Commissioned Clothing: Spank
Show photography: Rhys Beetham