Vanitas presented by Happenstance Theater at Silver Spring Black Box Theater

Vanitas

Silver Spring Black Box Theater
8641 Colesville Road Silver Spring

In this new Theatrical work of Art, The Queen, Fool, Musician and Three Fates create an animated Cabinet of Curiosities that will remind the viewer to consider Imagination as a vehicle to transcend life's Inevitabilities. Death is coming, Play while you can. In the 17th century the term 'Vanitas' originated to describe a genre of still-life painting that flourished in the Netherlands. These paintings depict collections of objects symbolic of the inevitability of death and the transience of earthly achievements and pleasures and remind the viewer to consider mortality and spiritual life.

Presented by Happenstance Theater

Thru - Apr 14, 2013

Thursdays: 8:00pm

Fridays: 8:00pm

Saturdays: 8:00pm

Sundays: 2:00pm

Price: $15

Show Type: Performance Art

Running Time: 1 hr, 15 mins without intermission

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Vanitas Reviews

Average Rating based on 4 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

Washington Post - Somewhat Recommended

"...The scattered highbrow allusions add to an aura of meandering solemnity that quickly becomes tedious. To be sure, the exuberant, irreverent quirkiness that has distinguished past Happenstance works ("Cabaret Macabre," "Manifesto!") might be inappropriate here, given this show's preoccupation with transience, futility and death, some of the scariest phenomena known to humans."

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- Celia Wren

Washington City Paper - Somewhat Recommended

"...Jaster's character is named Yorick, and he gets to hold his own skull in his palm this time. Mandell's queen has a trio of frilly-collared attendants who alternately wait on her and pretend to shoot her with arrows. The program identifies them collectively as "Fates." As in prior Happenstance shows, musician Karen Hansen offers live accompaniment on a variety of unfamiliar, possibly archaic instruments. No narrative context is required to enjoy the music, or to admire Jaster's astounding physical dexterity when he reclines to a prone position, then stands back up, while balancing a glass flower pot on his forehead. Those are genuine pleasures, but they're not enough. Vanitas fails honorably, and in inimitable style."

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- Chris Klimek

MD Theatre Guide - Recommended

"...The six performers who take the stage in Vanitas have more than enough skills and charm to engage an audience: and they do, with any number of visual bits and short vignettes. At the opening the three FATES-Gwen Grastorf, Sarah Olmsted Thomas, and Alex Vernon-offer us but a glimpse of the magical movements to come, as they interlock hands and arms in a convoluted dance equivalent of magic rings. Then, Karen Hansen, the show's musician and composer, enters to entertain us with her fabulous impression of a one-woman band."

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- Robert Michael Oliver

DCTheatreScene - Highly Recommended

A hybrid of music, dance, drama, comedy, and visual arts, Vanitas makes smart use of it’s artistic tool box as it invites the audience on a brief journey of art and reflection.

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- Sarah Ameigh

Vanitas presented by Happenstance Theater at Silver Spring Black Box Theater

Vanitas

Vanitas Reviews

Washington Post - Somewhat Recommended

Washington City Paper - Somewhat Recommended

MD Theatre Guide - Recommended

DCTheatreScene - Highly Recommended

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