Review - Mummenschanz: That 70's Show

People usually think I'm joking when I tell them that one of my favorite original Broadway cast albums is the one for the Swiss mime troupe, Mummenschanz. But yes, they did record an album; one of audience reactions during a live performance at the sadly-gone Bijou Theatre during their 1977 three-year run. The vinyl LP is even divided into bands and the liner notes tell you exactly which routines the crowd is laughing at and applauding for.

Founding artistic directors, Bernie Schurch and Floriana Frassetto, are joined by Raffaella Mattioli and Pietro Montandon as the 38-year-old company returns to New York for the holidays, working their considerable charm in a crazily imaginative show that contains many of their most beloved routines.

Trying to describe exactly what Mummenschanz does is a bit like trying to describe the abstractions of a Salvador Dali painting. There's no plot or theme involved, just a series of amusing and enchanting visuals by performers who are either donned in black or completely covered in some eye-catching contraption. I could tell you that a big yellow tube tosses and catches a big red ball, occasionally allowing it to bounce into the audience for some impromptu participation. Or that it's extremely funny watching a big green clump trying to climb onto another clump. Or that rolls of toilet paper are remarkably communicative when arranged to make faces. But perhaps this is a case where clicking here to sample videos on their web site is the best way to give you a taste of the 70-minute program. (Note that not all of the routines shown on the web site were performed the evening I attended.)

Their humor is gentle and quite appropriate for the young ones. In fact, since the company performs in complete silence, without background music or sound effects, one of the great pleasures of attending is hearing the continual giggles and excited squeals of delighted children. That is, if you can hear them above your own laughter.

Photos by Pia Zanetti

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