To You, The Birdie! (Phèdre)
2001, 2003
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Based on Paul Schmidt's translation of Racine's Phèdre, The Group's latest theater piece is a soap opera of windows |
and reflections, confessions and confrontations set in a modernist landscape of aluminum tracks, sliding plexiglass panels, omnipresent monitors and hidden cameras that thrust private moments into the public spotlight. The show fuses elements of the 17th century French Catholic court and Greek mythology with movement based on the sport of badminton and the dance vocabularies of Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham.
To You, The Birdie! (Phèdre) is directed by Elizabeth LeCompte and features Group members Willem Dafoe (as Theseus) and Kate Valk (as Phèdre). The rest of the company includes Wooster Group Associates Frances McDormand, Sheena See, Ari Fliakos, Scott Shepherd, Dominique Bousquet, Koosil-ja Hwang, Fiona Leaning, and Suzzy Roche.
The design team includes Company Associates Jim Findlay (set); Jennifer Tipton (light); Philip Bussmann, J. Reid Farrington, and Tara Webb (video); John Collins, Geoff Abbas, and Jim Dawson (sound); Lara Wilder (production manager); and Iver Findlay (technical director). Original music is composed by David Linton. Wu Chi-bing, a world-class badminton player, served as training coach and consultant for the badminton movement.
View Production Stills
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Still #1 |
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Still #2 |
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Still #3 |
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Still #5 |
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POSTER |
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AUDIO C D L O V E S O N G S Songs from The Wooster Group's 'To you, The Birdie! (Phèdre)' by drench |
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Pictured at top of page (as seen on monitor): |
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Last update: February 1, 2003
