Beowulf on stilts
June 2nd, 2007
I went to see the Ottawa Stilt Union perform Beowulf. Here’s the poster.
Why Beowulf on stilts? Why not? Stilts make people look really big!
Here are some of the actors stilting up backstage.
The band. (Not on stilts, alas.)
It’s an old story. The monster Grendel is terrorizing Hrothgar’s kingdom. Beowulf and his gang of Danes come to the rescue. Here are the Danes carousing in the mead hall.
Beowulf has blonde braids and puffy muscle arms. None of the actors speak in this show except for the bard, who is not on stilts. That’s the bard in the black dress.
Here’s Grendel eating somebody while Beowulf sleeps.
In this show the actors spend a lot of time getting on and off their stilts so they can go to sleep in the mead hall. While having this go on in plain view answers some of those age-old stilt-related questions - how do they get on and off? - it’s still an ungainly business. If I were choosing a show to do on stilts I might try and find one where the actors don’t have to lie down so much.
Beowulf tears off Grendel’s arm, and then he pursues Grendel’s mother into the underground pool where she lives. Grendel’s mother is played by two actors on stilts.
To make a long story short (and don’t you wish somebody did that when you took Beowulf in school), the Danes win because they are good and Grendel and his mom are evil. Nothing post-modern about this play.
Here’s a little girl in the audience.
I find stilts captivating because they’re so goofy. I think they are one of the great silly inventions of mankind. However, as silly as they are, they must be worn with dignity and gravitas. This play was really for children, which I should have expected, but still I was hoping for a bit more solemnity and sense of ritual. Bit less mugging and slapstick. I mean, it’s Beowulf. I also think the actors are going to have to speak lines in future shows, not just clump around.
Anyway, I had a good time. This is the Ottawa Stilt Union’s first show. Here is their web site: http://www.ottawastiltunion.ca
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:03 pm
When I was five I hit someone with my stilt on purpose. Then I felt awful, and I was scared I was going to get in trouble so I ran, and I fell down and stubbed my toe BADLY. I thought that was fair.
By the way Robin - aren’t you supposed to be providing my Hockey Night in Ottawa coverage tonight?
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:10 pm
You had stilts when you were five? I’ve never been on stilts. Maybe it’s not too late.
As for the hockey coverage, I would Zoom, but that would be three blog posts in one day. I’m trying to cut back.
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Yeah, my grandfather made them for me. They were lethal.
Too bad about the coverage…I can’t bear to watch the game. What’s the score?
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:32 pm
WHAT’S THE SCORE!!!!!
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:36 pm
4-3 Sens, and they’re on the power play early in the third.
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:40 pm
woop!
ty for the responsiveness
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:41 pm
We aim to please, here at Watawa Life Blog.
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Woohoo! Thanks Robin. Does it count as 3 posts a day if you provide the updates via your comments section?
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:44 pm
5-3 now.
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:45 pm
With a 2-goal lead maybe I can bring myself to actually watch it now.
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:45 pm
It counts as about 10 posts, if you count my horticultural advice on your blog.
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I didn’t mention, but both of those invasive weeds are highly poisonous to a lot of people: any contact with them results in eyes swollen shut, vicious oozing welts, severe pain and itching, etc. I’m generally a live-and-let-live kind of person, but these things are evil. And Annie says they can grow 30 feet each summer. I’m afraid they’re going to find a way into the house and strangle me while I sleep.
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Yikes! Vicious ooozing welts. Point taken. Bet you’re sorry you bought the house.
I wouldn’t start watching the hockey game now. It’s going to get hairy.
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Why, what’s going on? (As for the house, I now know why the garden wasn’t mentioned in the MLS listing…)
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Maybe you can get your money back.
I think Anaheim will fight really hard to try and win or at least tie it up, and they might succeed. Watching hockey is just too stressful.
June 2nd, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Ah, that’s what that stilt walking was about.
Can you also explain the guy on the unicycle crossing the crosswalk?
Yep, oood game, like different teams tonight.
June 2nd, 2007 at 10:05 pm
I declare a 5-3 win for Ottawa. Hi Pearl! Sorry, didn’t see the unicycle.
June 2nd, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Thanks for the live coverage Robin! This is much better than actually watching the game.
June 2nd, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Next I’m expanding into horse races. And golf.
June 2nd, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Excellent, I don’t want to watch those either.
June 2nd, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Me neither. I’ll probably just make it up.