If you could learn how to perform one of Aurélia’s tricks, which one would it be and why?
“I liked most when she was an acrobat in the curtains, high above the stage. It was very elegant and metaphorical.”—Nancy L
“It would not be one of her “tricks”, it would be her grace of movement that I would wish for.”—Susan W
“I would like to fly across the stage on the end of the kite string, not really a trick, but it looks like fun.”—NancyPoet
“Walking and spinning in and out of a coat with a partner.”—tessam
“I wouldn’t really want to learn how to do any of them. I’m happy just to watch them and I think it’s more magical if you don’t try to understand how they all work. I love the duet with the male actor in which they took off each other’s jacket (I’d like to learn how to make that look so interesting) and I also really liked the duet with them wearing one jacket and one pair of pants.”—jeremy
“Flying on the drapes.”—david p
“How to make my foot disappear and then knit it back.”—jan r.
“How to dance with your arms and feet. I found it fascinating.”—Ada N.
“Any and all acrobatic skills!”—James C
“How to disintegrate like sand and then come back.”—James F.
“How to dance sideways and backwards in shared pants.”—julie pm
“All the parts to the dresser (opener)-loved the casual pace it took, and the cleverness of it.”—Melissa S.
If you could ask Aurélia to bring a dream to life for you, what would it be?
“The dream of performing with her.”—Edrie
“Being able to work with her and take part in her fabulous creative process from conception to show.”—tessam
“Flying.”—Nancy L
“Fly with love.”—david p
“My father, back from the dead for a few minutes…”—jan r.
“Being weightless.”—Ada N.
“Does she ever date audience members? 😉 Seriously though, there were some subtle, dark themes in the show (e.g. aggressive puppets, loss of limbs, violent jackets), and it would be interesting to see her explore things like that for a more “adult-oriented” performance.”—James C
“I would let her decide.”—Susan W
“Letting more people discover and enjoy art.”—James F.
“Upside down tight-roping. I know she can do it! Floating on clouds. I am sure she can do it!”—julie pm
“To fly in a magical flying machine.”—Melissa S.
Victoria Chaplin was inspired to create this production by illustrations from a book about a world turned upside down. What elements of inversion did you notice in the production?
“The inversion was solely based on the audience – once we were inverted, everything else was normal though not expected.”—Edrie
“The two most memorable were the shadow with a man who mimicked his every move, and the kite that flew Aurelia, but all of them were quite entertaining.”—James C.
“The hot ice cream. The shadow that was upright. The puppet show for the puppets. The change required of the audience to be more active to work for answers.”—James F.
“The kite flying Aurelia, the shadow standing up, her face moving while the fan was still.”—NancyPoet
“Many…flowers, puppet show, chair.”—tessam
“The act in which there were two people that were making a shadow. It was like we were looking horizontally at this shadow that was being reflected on the ground, except that the thing was real. That was the main one I noticed but there were definitely others.”—Jeremy
“Flowers upside down, the shadow leading the man, clothes leading or attacking people, the puppet show with the puppets in the audience, the kite flying the person, many others.”—Nancy L
“Flowers inside flowerpot, shoes on hands, shoes in coat rack, hanging upside down, walking upside down, riding in chairlift upside down…”—jan r.
“Climbing down from above, sitting on a chair upside down, things appear from another part of the stage the moment after they are thrown away, pants are on the arms, coat is inverted from one side to another, body turns into sand and sand into body.”—Ada N.
“I loved climbing the rope down to safety. Don’t forget the taxi ride and players with boot-hats on their heads!”—julie pm
“Man/shadow; flowers in vase upside down; clothes inside out; character walking on hands; baby smoking.”—Melissa S.
Aurélia’s mother directed her in this production. What artistic creations have you made with your family (in public or at home)?
“We made a video of the 3 Stooges episode “Men in Black” with roles played by extended family members ages 3 to 83.”—jan r.
“When I was a child I used to put together puppet shows and also magic trick shows with my best friend for our parents.”—Ada N.
“We create ‘turkey art’ every thanksgiving. Each year, we all use a different medium (clay, printing, watercolor, wood, wires etc.) that is the main one.”—jeremy
“My entire family is invovled in my art – visual and musical http://www.armyoftoys.com http://www.myspace.com/armyoftoys We have also toured with the Tiger Lillies just as Aurélia has.”—Edrie
“My daughters are now gown and play cello and violin professionally. As children, they used to put on elaborate plays in the basement for which they wrote their own songs and always got their younger brother to dress in outlandish costumes.”—NancyPoet
“Baking cookies and caramels.”—tessam
“Family of musicians play together.”—david p
“Our artistic creations have been in the line of food.”—Susan W
“To be honest and live life. (My three kids loved the show.)”—James F.
“My mother costume designed shows on Block Island in which my sister performed while I held important audience posts. My sister still performs. I direct my own and many children in school and community plays.”—julie pm
“Traditional crafts handed down-quilting, needleworking. Music-dulcimer and fiddle.”—Melissa S.
American Repertory Theater 