The Andersen Project

I just saw The Andersen Project at Emerson: a dazzling, beautiful, funny, thoughtful theatre piece for one actor written and directed by theatre visionary Robert Lapage. 

I've been a fan of Lapage ever since I saw his other solo piece Far Side of the Moon at the ART maybe 5 or so years back: a very moving, poetic examination of two very different twin brothers coping with their mother's death/suicide. 

I've also been lucky enough to see his film The Image Mill in Quebec City (from a boat in the harbor, no less!).  The Image Mill celebrated the 400 year anniversary of Quebec City, and was projected onto these enormous Grain silos (I think that's what they were) that lined the Harbor.  I just read somewhere that it was the largest projection in history.  It was unbelievable.  I also saw his Damnation of Faust at the Paris Opera, with a Faust that dropped thru many trap doors to wind up in Hell with a red, naked chorus.  Fabulous.

The Andersen Project also follows two distinct personalities: a Montreal librettist in Paris, working on a children's opera based on a tale by Hans Christen Andersen, "The Dryad" and his producer, a fast talking Parisian with a penchant for peep shows.

Ugly Duckling author Hans Christain Andersen makes an appearance as well, as well as a mysterious Moroccan graffiti artist, an invisible dog, a dress form in a hoop skirt and the Dryad herself: a fabled nymph trapped inside a chestnut tree who longs to see Paris and mingle with mankind.

All roles are portrayed by the astounding Yves Jacques (who also played the two brothers in Far Side of the Moon).  No use describing it, you just must go and see it!