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Players in dark to show up the light
By Xu Wei |
June 28, 2009, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AMERICAN show business veteran Michael Marlin (pictured below), whose Broadway show "Luma" is being staged at Shanghai Oriental Art Center till today, is an artist with a great passion for life.
"Luma" is unusual in that the star of the 100-minute show is light (r)? in all its colors, frequencies and forms.
It features a variety of technology and devices that create lasers, sunlight, X-rays, firelight, flashlights and fireflies as pictured above.
The performers, who can only be seen as silhouettes, incorporate dance, rhythmic gymnastics, juggling, magic, puppetry, physics, chaos theory and experimental methods to build illusions of light and color.
Marlin, 53, was a comedian-juggler in Las Vegas and on American TV for years before becoming interested in astronomy which led him to develop "Luma."
Marlin brought the show (r)? performed in 12 countries so far (r)? to Shanghai when he was drawn to Pudong's night skyline after seeing a photo series.
Q: Why is this show called "Luma?"
A: English words like luminary or luminous refer to light and a lumen is a measurement of light.
Q: What do you think light can do to our life?
A: Light makes a seed grow. Light when focused can cut steel. Light can carry information through fiber optic cables. Light can heal, change our moods, and entertain us. Light is what is happening when we love another person but we don't see it with our eyes, we feel it in our hearts. People who have near death experiences speak of "going to a beautiful light."
Q: Why is this show different from other shows? Would you please identify this special form of performing arts?
A: In other shows, it is people who are the focal point. With "Luma" the focus is on the light not the performers. They are mostly unseen and the audience has no idea how many are in the cast. "Luma" can be seen by blind people due to the high contrast of light against dark. The dark is the canvas and light is my brush.
Q: What is the inspiration for this show?
A: My interest in astronomy and people being unable to see the stars in the sky at night brought me to my exploration of light. I found it ironic that light would travel across the universe to reach our eyes only to be "drowned out" at the finish line. Our city lights overwhelm the starlight from the universe. So I looked at all light sources and found them in nature, made by the hand of man and light that is metaphorical in nature. So as the audience watches "Luma," they may be reminded of fireflies, rainbows, glowing sea creatures, the northern lights, computer screen savers, carnival rides, and much more.
Q: Would you please tell us some of the most impressive stories from behind the scenes?
A: We have been stopped at airport security a lot as the stuff we carry looks like something from the laboratory of a crazy scientist, which on some level I guess I am. There have been a number of injuries while learning to do the show as it is inherently dangerous to run around in the dark. Broken noses, bloody lips, busted-up hands and legs, and cast members falling off the stage.
Q: How do you know about China?
A: I visited China in 1983 and understand things have changed quite a bit so it is exciting to see them. The Chinese culture has always been a fascination and as a kid I watched Bruce Lee and kung fu on television. As an adult I have cast the "I Ching," studied the Tao, and practiced some tai chi and qi gong.
"Luma" is unusual in that the star of the 100-minute show is light (r)? in all its colors, frequencies and forms.
It features a variety of technology and devices that create lasers, sunlight, X-rays, firelight, flashlights and fireflies as pictured above.
The performers, who can only be seen as silhouettes, incorporate dance, rhythmic gymnastics, juggling, magic, puppetry, physics, chaos theory and experimental methods to build illusions of light and color.
Marlin, 53, was a comedian-juggler in Las Vegas and on American TV for years before becoming interested in astronomy which led him to develop "Luma."
Marlin brought the show (r)? performed in 12 countries so far (r)? to Shanghai when he was drawn to Pudong's night skyline after seeing a photo series.
Q: Why is this show called "Luma?"
A: English words like luminary or luminous refer to light and a lumen is a measurement of light.
Q: What do you think light can do to our life?
A: Light makes a seed grow. Light when focused can cut steel. Light can carry information through fiber optic cables. Light can heal, change our moods, and entertain us. Light is what is happening when we love another person but we don't see it with our eyes, we feel it in our hearts. People who have near death experiences speak of "going to a beautiful light."
Q: Why is this show different from other shows? Would you please identify this special form of performing arts?
A: In other shows, it is people who are the focal point. With "Luma" the focus is on the light not the performers. They are mostly unseen and the audience has no idea how many are in the cast. "Luma" can be seen by blind people due to the high contrast of light against dark. The dark is the canvas and light is my brush.
Q: What is the inspiration for this show?
A: My interest in astronomy and people being unable to see the stars in the sky at night brought me to my exploration of light. I found it ironic that light would travel across the universe to reach our eyes only to be "drowned out" at the finish line. Our city lights overwhelm the starlight from the universe. So I looked at all light sources and found them in nature, made by the hand of man and light that is metaphorical in nature. So as the audience watches "Luma," they may be reminded of fireflies, rainbows, glowing sea creatures, the northern lights, computer screen savers, carnival rides, and much more.
Q: Would you please tell us some of the most impressive stories from behind the scenes?
A: We have been stopped at airport security a lot as the stuff we carry looks like something from the laboratory of a crazy scientist, which on some level I guess I am. There have been a number of injuries while learning to do the show as it is inherently dangerous to run around in the dark. Broken noses, bloody lips, busted-up hands and legs, and cast members falling off the stage.
Q: How do you know about China?
A: I visited China in 1983 and understand things have changed quite a bit so it is exciting to see them. The Chinese culture has always been a fascination and as a kid I watched Bruce Lee and kung fu on television. As an adult I have cast the "I Ching," studied the Tao, and practiced some tai chi and qi gong.
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