Casa Captivating
Exclusive Interviews
Theater company the Troubadour Theater Company, arrives at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens on June 6 for a special performance of, “The Odd-Essy,” a modern comical take on the Greek classic drama The Oddessy. Casa Romantica (CR) interviewed Matt Walker to explain what to expect from their exciting new take on an old story.
CR: To give our audience a bit of background, can you tell us a bit about the history of your group the troubadours?
MW: We were founded in 1995 by performers from many different disciplines – circus clowns, Shakespearean actors, improv/comedy performers, musicians – bringing their unique skill sets together to create a slapstick, classical, musical theatre troupe. Since 1995 we have created over 30 original shows: (including) Fleetwood Macbeth, Julius Weezer, Its a Stevie Wonderful Life, Christmas Carole King, Much a Doobie Brothers About Nothing, As U2 Like It, How the Prinche Stole Christmas, A Christmas Westside Story, Alice in One-Hit Wonderland, etc
CR: Tell us what we can expect from Troubadour performances.
MW: The unexpected! If you arrive late, then we’ll sing to you. If your cell phone goes off, then you’ll be part of the show. If actors flub a line, then we will throw a penalty flag and make them do it over. You can expect adaptations of classic stories with a musical flair and circus sensibilities. We love and appreciate our audiences and are doing these works for them!
CR: What are the most common assumptions and/or potential misconceptions you’ve heard from people about theater/plays, and how do you challenge them?
MW: That classic plays are museum pieces – inaccessible to modern audiences. We think not. We think that these classic stories have endured for a very good reason; they are still relevant. So we like to tell these stories using music, slapstick comedy, current topical references, and clowning to help bring them to life in the way they may have been performed for ancient audiences. Demystify the work and celebrate what’s made them vital.
CR: Can you explain how commedia del’arte comes into play when you are writing your works — but in layman’s terms?
MW: Everything can be traced back to the commedia del’arte, and before that to the Greeks. For example, stock characters that audiences could easily identify with: ie, the old miserly man, the young lovers, the braggadocios hero, the plotting maid, etc. These characters are still around today! We try to find the essence of truth in these characters and expand it outwardly to make them larger-than-life. Then, we incorporate the commedia del’arte comedy and clowning, the music, and leave room for the audience to inform the work during performance with performers engaging the audience, creating a reciprocal experience – never the same-show-twice – which was the commedia way.
CR: What are a few of your favorite, most exciting, or most dramatic moments in “The Odd-Essy” that our audience will see? What can we expect?
MW: Let’s not give anything away! Needless to say their are some very interesting characters…Athena & Zeus, the cyclops, the witch Circe, the sirens, etc.
CR: Why are you excited to perform at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens?
MW: Such a beautiful venue! And to bring our brand of theater to new audiences is always exciting!
Troubadour Theater Company performs at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens on Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 7 PM and Friday, June 7, 2019 at 7 PM. Tickets are $25 ($20 Casa members).
Click here for tickets to the Thursday Showing.
Click here for tickets to the Friday Showing.
The Troubadour Theater Company is part of the Casa Theater Series.
