Jose Jorge Carreon
AUSTRALIAN
Premiere
Teatro de Ciertos Habitantes
El Automovil Gris (The Grey Automobile)
“I avoid clichés like ‘You’ve never seen anything like this
before,’ but the fact is, you haven’t.” Roger Ebert, Film Critic
This critically acclaimed work is complex and highly original, certainly, but it is
also tremendous fun. A disarmingly charming production.
The 1919 Mexican silent film El Automovil Gris was the biggest hit of its day.
Mixing fiction and reality, it tells the story of The Grey Automobile Gang who
terrorised Mexico City during the chaos of the Revolution. This 21st century
Mexican theatre production juxtaposes the classic film with live actors and
brilliantly improvised piano music. Inspired by the Japanese Benshi tradition,
with actors onstage voicing the characters onscreen, El Automovil Gris
takes the audience on a wild, exhilarating ride that crisscrosses languages,
cultures and time.
Spanish, Japanese and English with English subtitles.
The actors give each character a distinct voice, while a pianist provides
accompaniment, weaving a dramatic atmosphere and creating original
compositions as well as delving into a battery of Japanese and Mexican
silent film scores. Subtitles in striking graphic sequences help capture the
spirit, vivacity and humour of the Mexican language.
El Automovil Gris is truly an international work. Not only does it span
languages and cultures, the production has travelled to many countries, among
them Germany, France, Spain, Chile, the United States and now Australia.
The CUB Malthouse,
Merlyn Theatre
Auslan Interpretation:
Sat 18 Oct at 8pm
Thu 16 – Sat 18 Oct at 8pm
Full
Groups (8+)
Conc
Student / MF-Y
1hr 30min no interval
(Performance on Fri 17 Oct followed
by a post