Saturday, November 13, 2010

voice- box


voice-box


When I was young it was all about Cassius Clay, as he was before he became Muhammad Ali. That’s probably even the first time I heard the term Muhammad. He would "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”. Hard too, to ignore the terrible state he was in later, dilapidated with Parkinson's disease — as he carried the reminders

Of ev'ry glove that layed him down
Or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
"I am leaving, I am leaving"
But the fighter still remains

Over the years boxing movies have caught my attention—from Daniel Day Lewis’ The Boxer, to Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby. It was the human story that I focused on—yeah right! How can you deny the metaphor of the characters fighting in the ring and out, both physically and mentally? I have always admired the discipline involved even as the sight of two humans beating the crap out of each other made my would- be Buddhist nature squirm!

All of this has been in my mind as I contemplate the boxing opera in which my singer, boxer- friend Vilma Vitols is involved. Entitled voice-box: a competitive concert in a boxing ring by interdisciplinary collective urbanvessel, to date two performances have taken place at the Harborfront Centre and there are two more to come—this evening, Saturday, November 13, at 8:00 PM and tomorrow afternoon, November 14, at 2:00 PM


Here’s the official description:

Featuring some of Canada's most unique vocal performers in the worlds of jazz, cabaret and opera, voice-box draws upon vocal techniques ranging from scat-singing and sound poetry to throat-singing and gospel. voice-box plays with gender and power dynamics, as vocal improvisation and boxing bring body and voice together in a battle for victory. Audience members engage with the work through interactive roles as judges, fans and gamblers, while performers shift fluidly between boxers, coaches, referees and commentators.

http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/freshground/voicebox.cfm

Since I was due to be away for the performances (I’m in Abu Dhabi as I write this), I went to the dress rehearsal.

Beautiful slow motion choreography, but one boxer hits - “Oh, I’m sorry.” Boxing predators change into glamorous cabaret singers with feather boas.

“In 1991 Jenny Reid, a woman, a lawyer and a boxer fought at all costs to get into the ring. “

Mixed Match paddy whack- Margaret "Tiger" Mac Gregor beat a man!

The referee, dances, from ballet to tango to waltz- the boxers
” choose to be black and blue”, it’s like a badge of honor.

“I’m no victim, I gotta fist of steel—this ugly beauty can take a punch”

Tea time!

Little boxing girls in tutus, giggling girls – all as a front to really, hit the other. Let’s face it girls can be mean!

She: titface!
Her: uptight!
She: vain!
Her: Xena wannabe!
She: zit!
Her: androgynous!
She: butch!
Her: control freak!
She: dyke!
Her: egotistical!
She: gross!
Her: hermaphrodite!
She: insecure!
Her: joke!
She: knock-kneed!
Her: macho!
She: nobody!
Her: ooooooooooo old!
She: poser!

leaves

She: quitter!

But there is love
Dancers sing Carmen: "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle." ("Love is a rebellious bird") but it becomes all a frenzy- primal- all building up for the big fight—the main event! Will you be there to tell the tale?

Let’s hear it for:

Fighters
Savoy "Kapow!" Howe
Vilma "The Vilminator" Vitols
Christine "Trouble Clef" Duncan
Neema "Stealth Bomber" Bickersteth

Announcer = Juliet "Piranha" Palmer (composer)
Card Girl = Anna "Chew 'em up" Chatterton (writer)
Referee = Julia "Bad Apple" Aplin (choreographer/director)

When I ran my opera company in Ireland between 2004 and 2009, I was happy to be involved in large- scale main stream opera projects, albeit that I had to fight with the Board of Directors to do anything that wasn’t the stand and deliver type of production! With the economic decline in Ireland the company folded last year and I have oft thought that a smaller more vital enterprise woulda, coulda shoulda survived. So, when Vilma described the boxing opera concept I was definitely intrigued, because I think that from this sort of mixed media collaboration we may find a new way of presenting music and opera to a more diverse audience. It is an interesting and engaging concept - expertly and entertaining put together. Well done – given much food for thought!

Kevin Mallon
November 13, 2010