A Commedia dell’Arte Troupe – the Italian mask theater – in a vibrant, colorful and entertaining celebration that introduces the audience to the world of this incredible art form.
Pantalone, Harlequin, Columbine and Brighella perform short scenes from the classics and improvised scenes that integrate movement, pantomime, physical humor and, of course, the audience, in interactive and entertaining activities in the tradition of Commedia dell’Arte.
The truth always lies in body language. While facial expressions and words may reflect our thoughts – what we wish to convey, the body is the mirror of emotions – it reflects the soul’s innermost desires.
Using various masks, comical situations and role-playing games, we become aware of this language’s hidden messages and acquire basic tools for conscious use of body language.
A lecture intertwined with enacted scenes, on the connection between the formal design of various theater masks and portrayal of the character by the actor wearing it. The presentation unveils the process of designing and creating a theater mask, providing a glimpse behind the scenes into the creation of these masks and the actor’s bodywork.
A sightseeing tour with Amnon and Tamar, veteran tour guides who lead the audience around the city streets and alleys. They stop next to various tourist attractions and explain all about the place and its history. For the record, these explanations have very little to do with actual fact. The tour guides use mobile speakers to play relevant music and engage the audience in music and dance.
Two masked actors in a wandering mask show, interact with the audience and the public space in a comical, and even musical and physical manner. Three actors perform a unique, wordless street show in masks incorporating slapstick, pantomime, buffoonery, music, movement and visual humor.
Created and performed by: Scapino Ensemble | Direction and Musical Editing: Haim Abud
A wordless comedy that dives deep inside the human spirit through the protagonists’ fears and aspirations. A film crew meets on set. In-between the preparations for the different scenes, we are introduced to the crew members – together and apart – their fears, dreams, power struggles and the endless search for one’s place in the world. The show is packed-full of masks, physical humor and performance-video performed live, enriching the stage with images, video sequences and music that bridge between the actors, audience and the video-performer in the ‘here and now.’
Direction: Haim Abud and Nimrod Tzin | Performers: Barak Gonen, Efrat Cohen, Nimrod Tzin | Video & Music design: Nimrod Tzin | Set design: Zohar Shoeff | Costume design: Meirav Nethaniel
Inspired by the poems and stories of A. Hillel. A captivating musical performance. Two actresses tell, sing and use masks and puppets to perform the whimsical and humorous tales of famed Israeli poet, A. Hillel. Experience the best of Israeli children’s classics, including “Good Morning,” “What’s in the Legs,” “Two Geese,” “The Fox and the Stork,” “It’s Sad to be the King of the Animals,” and more.
Full video of the show
Poems and Stories: A. Hallel | Writing and Editing: Tal Omer | Direction: Haim Abud | Vocal coaching: Hila Gonan | Costumes: Merav Nethaniel Danon | Masks, puppets, and props: Einat Sanderovich | Puppetry guidance: Ilan Savir | Cast: Ella Goffer Abud and Orit Peres | Photography and editing: Nimrod Tzin and Jonathan Shachuch
Supported by: The Pais Fund – The Pais Council for Culture and Arts with the assistance of EVE – Israeli Independent Artists Organization.
Mrs. Pantalona’s theater troupe arrives in town to perform the tale of ‘Cinderella.’ The staeg is all set, the audience is in their seats, but lo and behold, the lead actress playing Cinderella – has disappeared. The desperate Mrs. Pantalona decides to call off the show. Her dedicated stage workers, Columbina and Baguettino do their best to reverse the decision. They find a way to collaborate and with a little imagination, will power and Arlekina the fairy’s magic – they manage to put on the show after all. Three actors, seven masks and two puppets perform a theatrical celebration in the age-old tradition of Commedia dell’arte.
Full video of the show
Created by: Scapino Ensemble | Direction and Adaptation: Haim Abud | Writing: Avia Ochayon | Dramaturgy: Shai Shabtai | Music: Dan Huppert | Mask, Puppet, and Prop Design: Einat Sanderovich | Set and Costume Design: Mirav Nethaniel Danon | Movement: Ella Goffer | Vocal Coaching: Hila Gonan | Puppetry Guidance: Ilan Savir | Cast: Orit Peres, Efrat Cohen, Doron Lederer
Supported by: The Pais Fund – The Pais Council for Culture and Arts with the assistance of EVE – Israeli Independent Artists Organization.
A satire for adults in the style of Commedia dell’arte. Somewhere in the Roman kingdom, the Minister of War during peacetime aspires to become the next emperor. To achieve this goal, he must bring a child into the world within the coming year. This task is far from simple, as he faces his cunning and conniving assistant, a greedy hotel owner, a failed actress, and a young couple from an underdeveloped city. The play is inspired by Plautus’ “Miles Gloriosus” and is a satirical farce poking fun at government, power games, personal agendas, and ego all of which are present in the plot and on the stage, typical of the Commedia dell’arte tradition. In these turbulent times, where we are exposed to farce from every which way, this show provides a refreshing look at the circus we all live in and call ‘reality.’
Full video of the show
Writing and Direction: Barak Gonan | Artistic guidance and dramaturgy: haim Abud | Mask design: Einat Sanderovich | Costume and set design: Mirav Nethaniel Danon | Lighting design: Adi Shimroni | Actors: Rotem Nachmani/Ella Goffer Abud, Gal Shushan, Hila Gonen, Anatoly Shenfeld, Barak Gonen
Supported by EVE (Israeli Independent Artists Organization) and the Culture Administration.
Lorca adapted for mask theater winner of the Best Supporting Actrss Golden Hedgehog Award, 2016
A well-read and refined aging bachelor isolates himself from the world with his books. His maid and societal conventions push Don Perlimplín into marriage with a bride who is his complete opposite – young, passionate, and full of desire. In Scapino ensemble’s current interpretation, this classic comedy turns tragic under the manipulative orchestration of the two masked MCs, duendes (demons) who juggle between two worldviews: one, physical-materialistic dealing with lust and sensual satisfaction, and the other ideal-moralistic, eternal. All this is aimed at gratifying the audience and, of course, to meet the required ratings. So, who will be the next gladiators?
Written by: Federico Garcia Lorca Translated by: Rene Litvin Direction: Haim Abud Adaptation and dramaturgy: Barak Gonen and Shachar Golan Costume design: Meirav Nethaniel Danon Set design: Roy Vaturi Lighting design: Adi Shimroni Mask design: Ella Goffer Abud Music: Dan Huppert Performed by: Barak Gonen, Dror Tapelitzky, Orit Peres, Ella Goffer Abud/Rotem Nachmani (winner of the Best Supporting Actrss Golden Hedgehog Award, 2016)
A wordless apocalyptic comedy in masks. The story of Debbie, a secretary in a failed plastic surgery clinic. Debbie tries to fit in and find love but is forced to watch from the sidelines as the doctor, her secret love interest, transforms into a celebrity doctor and her unsuccessful workplace to a huge success, turning into a trendy production line of identity-less individuals. The mask play unfolds, without words, showcasing the events in one clinic while presenting a micro-cosmos for society as a whole. Combining full-face masks, humor, movement, dance, buffoonery and video art, the Scapino Ensemble creates a unique stage language in the Israeli theater scene.
Full video of the show
Directed by: Yoram Boker, Haim Abud Performed by: Orit Peres, Barak Gonen, Ella Goffer Abud, Haim Abud Masks: Yehudit Grinspan
Set and costume design: Meirav Nethaniel Danon Lighting design: Adi Shimroni Original score: Dan Huppert Video art: Nimrod Tzin Artistic advisor: Ilan Savir
Supported by the Culture Administration and EVE – Israeli Independent Artists Organization.
