Presse internationale - Théâtre de Saint-Malo

PRESS COLLECTION
THE STAGE reviews
http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/34921/pss-pss
Pss Pss
Published Monday 16 January 2012 at 11:22 by Liz Arratoon
Now in its 35th year, the London International Mime Festival of contemporary visual theatre
always generates a sense of anticipation about what intriguing productions the ever-questing
directors Joseph Seelig and Helen Lannaghan will have unearthed. With the Baccala Clowns’ Pss
Pss they have found gold.
On an empty stage with the bare minimum of props - a toy suitcase, a ladder and some fruit Camilla Pessi and Simone Fassari use their wildly expressive faces and bodies to tell their tale of a
slightly competitive couple, who only verbalise the title’s pss pss noise and an occasional sigh.
They wear quirky outfits; she in brightly coloured layers including pantaloons and red leather
bootees, and he in chalk-stripe trews, braces and checkered socks. They both sport strange little
hats. Directed by circus-theatre specialist Louis Spagna, their show is packed with ideas and
ingenuity. It is deceptively simple. This outstandingly funny duo, who trained with the famous
Swiss clown Dimitri at his school in Switzerland, take their gentle art to a place unfunny clowns
must long for.
As if that weren’t enough, they also play the trumpet and accordion, and display exceptional circus
skills in a superbly clever acrobatic hand to hand routine and again on static trapeze, where they
almost come to blows. There is silly slapstick and audience participation with a darker edge watch your heads.
Constantly in demand all round the world, London is oh so lucky that Pessi and Fassari have had
time to grace it with their presence.
Pss Pss, Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, London
Monday 16 January 2012 - Zoë Anderson
Simone Fassari and Camilla Pessi, the award-winning double act Baccala Clowns, bow in triumph
because they’ve managed to juggle a single apple. Then they flip coolly through challenging
acrobatics, Pessi poised on one hand on Fassari’s head. Pss Pss is a children’s show that works for
its young audience, and for adults too. Presented as part of the London International Mime
Festival, Pss Pss is Baccala Clowns’ first show for theatres rather than circus, developed with
director Louis Spagna. Fassari and Pessi present themselves as an old-fashioned music hall act. He
has a silent-movie look, with pale face and slicked-back hair. Pessi, in a bright assortment of tights
and bloomers, has a ready pout and an air of wide-eyed surprise. Their reactions are precise and
unexpected. As acrobats, they swing from slapstick to beautiful poise, with sidelong glances and
competitive sidling. Pessi clambers up Fassari, wobbling as she stands on his shoulders, then his
head. Holding his hands, she unfolds into a handstand on his upraised arms. Back on the ground,
she puffs out her cheeks goofily, in the face they both pull to encourage each other. Both
characters are single-minded and easily distracted: they’re completely focused on something, until
their attention switches onto the next idea. When Fassari starts to eat a banana, Pessi watches
with greedy calculation, waiting her moment to pounce. He gets it back from her by distracting her
attention, pointing out a fixed trapeze overhead. The trouble is, he can’t look away either. How do
you eat a banana while gazing open-mouthed at something directly above you?
They can’t reach the trapeze by jumping or balancing, so Pessi and Fassari get hold of a stepladder
– only to be distracted by that. The steps rock, snap shut on them, even become a musical
instrument when they blow through its hollow rungs. The ladder still isn’t high enough to reach
the trapeze, until Simone climbs it with Pessi on his shoulders.
On the trapeze, they launch into heart-in-mouth slapstick, a very funny catalogue of tangled limbs,
missed catches, last-minute rescues and long-suffering glances to the audience. Getting down is
even harder than getting up. Simone leaves Pessi hanging, stuck in the air long enough to get
bored, heave a put-upon sigh and cross one leg tidily over the other. In mid-air, the
characterisation is as deft as it is on the ground.
http://totaltheatrereview.com/reviews/pss-pss
16th January 2012
These two clowns can’t even reach their own trapeze, so they end up playing Twinkle, Twinkle
Little Star on a stepladder. The different sized pipes from the rungs of the ladder make for an
unusual triangular rendition.
Baccala Clowns also enlist an audience member to balance on, without it being clear whether or
not he’s a plant. If not, it’s a real risk – supposing he has weak knees or shoulders? – and they also
flout health and safety by moving the ladder over the audience’s heads. If so, it’s still an engaging
ploy. And they certainly coax the audience into group hugs.
The stepladder moment is not the only one that suggests that a man’s reach should exceed his
grasp, or what’s a heaven for… Camilla Pessi and Simone Fassari also play with an apple and
banana, striving for a mouthful, with the man stuck in a gaping loop, unable to take a bite. Their
lopsided hugs – with the woman absorbed but the man bored – also suggest mismatched dreams.
So although Pss Pss is billed as suitable for age five upwards, it has some adult nuance too.
The bemused couple tread lightly, with physical skill. They are distinctive characters, even when
swinging on the trapeze, perhaps particularly the shockheaded woman. The show plays a lot with
the teasing symmetry of bodies, mirrored, angular, upside down and back to front. Depth and
dexterity, you could say.
The design is sharp – for example lime and red colours in the costume match that of the
accordion. Layers are used to great effect, with a comic mini-frock for curtseying, and a big gash of
fabric hanging provocatively at another point.
Pss Pss does have a few lulls. It works within familiar European traditions, so is perhaps only gently
innovative, although highly skilled. However, it is difficult to harden the heart against such a
teasingly uplifting performance.
http://www.festivalcite.ch/blog/2011/07/acrobaties-clownesques/
Acrobaties clownesques!
Posté par Benedicte le 1 juillet 2011
Derrière le spectacle Pss pss se cache Baccalà Clown. Un duo à la marque de fabrique efficace, à
redécouvrir à La Fabrique ce soir !
En effet, le couple Baccalà Clown formé par Simone Fassari et Camilla Pessi, possède une vraie
marque de fabrique pour faire rire le public. Ils offrent un spectacle authentique et spontané qui
nous donne le sourire et qui nous questionne bien au-delà de nos attentes.
Tout commence doucement et naïvement. Les impatients quittent alors le spectacle, les plus
curieux restent et contemplent ce qui se passe. Et ils ont bien raison ! Le spectacle va crescendo
pour arriver à des acrobaties à la fois drôles et spectaculaires. Nous déambulons avec le duo de
surprise en surprise, le spectacle nous captive et nous rend impatients de voir la suite.
Le duo joue sur des choses simples mais très efficaces. Une touche de spontanéité, un brin de
naïveté, un soupçon de clownerie,une pointe d’acrobaties, tout ceci saupoudré d’humour et de
talent. Et voilà, on est parti pour le voyage dans leur monde imaginaire. Chacun s’y retrouve ! Le
seul bémol au spectacle est le lieu, peut-être mal adapté à leur spectacle; on manque les quelques
instants du spectacle au sol car la scène est trop haute pour parvenir à les voir. Mais ceci ne gâche
en rien le plaisir et se fait vite oublier!
Attachants, drôles, captivants, les Baccalà clown sont à découvrir absolument ! Profitez de leur
seconde représentation, ce soir à 20H à La Fabrique.
L’AVENIR.NET
http://www.lavenir.net/article/detail.aspx?articleid=DMF20110603_00009575
vendredi 03 juin 2011
(…)
Les clowns descendent aussi de la pomme. La preuve avec « Pss Pss ».
Quelle belle découverte que cette rencontre avec Camilla Pessi la souple acrobate et poétesse de
la gestuelle, et Simone (à prononcer à l’italienne : c’est le monsieur du tandem) Fassari, son alter
ego en forme de Tati méditarranéen, plongé dans son moi-intérieur entre naïveté, timidité et
envies.
Il y a un pépin entre les deux
Et parce que l’histoire biblique rebondit par la dégustation d’une pomme, plongeant le monde
dans les affres que l’on sait, « Pss Pss démarre » également aux bouts de deux trognons. Deux
pommes qui se baladent sur un chapeau boule, qui s’échangent, qui créent le dialogue - muet
mais en quelques notes de musiques jouées sur scène.
L’histoire de couple commence comme une comptine, narrant cet échange si impossible entre les
deux amoureux qui s’ignorent. Et qui vont finir par prendre de la hauteur, littéralement, dans une
séquence visuellement et physiquement incroyable où un seul trapèze accroché aux frondaisons
de la Maison de la Culture sert de support à un amour naissant, donc vécu à deux et partagé sur
quelques centimètres de bois et quelques longueurs de fil.
Vraiment, la compagnie Baccala’Clown fait dans la démesure, dans le terme premier et noble du
terme, osant l’apesanteur et les audaces sans gravité pour mieux-être dans la légèreté.
Une friandise qui coûte bonbon
Seul petit bémol à cette merveilleuse aventure : le spectacle est présenté hors pass. Et cette «
friandise à partager en famille« , dit le programme officiel du festival, coûte quand même 12€.
Voilà aussi une audace pour un spectacle qui se veut pleinement familial, donc collectif.
LA SICILIA
NEWSPAPER – CATANIA ITALY
DU CONTE DE FEES A L'ACROBATIE LES "BACCALA' CLOWN" A LA CONQUETE DES COEURS
.
Francesca Motta
15-05-2011
Poétique, surréel, intime, stupeur à l'état pur, pour les rêveurs, petits et grands qui n'ont jamais
grandi, un théatre de l'âme fantasmogorique où on peut se perdre pour retrouver la fantaisie et le
jeu: "Pss Pss" des "Baccalà Clown", régie de Louis Spagna. Une performance sans temps, hors du
temps, révulsée, hilarante, faite avec virtuosité, avec une saveur antique et douce des contes de
fées, fusion d'acrobaties, jonglerie et mimes, qui franchit à chaque instant le lyrisme. Appeler
"clowns", les auteurs de cette magie scénique, au Centre Zo: Simone Fassari et Camilla Pessi serait
trop restreint. Ce sont des acteurs, des acrobates, des mimes, des fantaisistes doués d'une
créativité illimitée. Capables de rendre visible l'invisible, sous un charme raffiné et gentil, qui
dérive d'une grande habilité créative et d'années d'expérience. Le couple, uni et complémentaire,
grâce aux petits rideaux en séquence, montre amplement le savoir acquis sur le champ: chaque
geste, mouvement, grimace, sourire est sychronique et étudié à la prefection. Les silences
assourdissants d'émotions, les gags empreints d'humorisme corrosif qui se balancent entre
fraternité et compétition, étourderies et espiègleries, créent un jeu de renvois qui enchante. Ils
s'échangent des marques de tendresse, des clins d'oeil et des défis,en intercalant des évolutions
gestuelles en acrobaties importantes et prodigieuses à couper le souffle. Le tout est plongé dans
une atmosphère minimale, à part leur talent.
Peu d'éléments servent à nos deux "performer"
pour nous étonner: une pomme, une échelle prodigieuse qui devient tantôt un orchestre de sons,
tantôt un bateau roulant, un trapèze qui vole vers les portes du ciel, le son d'un orgue
mélancolique. Ce sont leurs corps et leurs visages déliés qui parlent sans cesse, les expressions
mimiques infinies, l'humanisme de leur comicité, les acrobaties mirobolantes, sans aucun filet de
protection.
Tendrement bohémiens et caméléons de l'âme, les deux romantiques athlètes de
coeur se déchainent dans l'art des merveilles avec générosité. Le public applaudit avec eux, vole
haut.
On lit dans les yeux des spectateurs la merveille innocente du regard d'un enfant, ce que
chacun de nous préserve, qui fait irruption quand on abandonne la rationalité et on se laisse
transporter par le flux des souvenirs et des émotions. Ce qui fait qu'on se plonge sans réticence
dans le rêve. Standing Ovation final pour ce petit, et à la fois grand, show. A ne pas manquer.
CAIRO International Circus Festival: I Baccalà
www.almasryalyoum.com online review
Valentina Cattane
Almasry Alyoum : 08 - 10 - 2010
“Pss pss” was the only word heard during the one-hour show of the clown duo I Baccalà, the
Italian troupe who thrilled the crowd yesterday at El Genaina Theater on the second day of the
Cairo International Circus Festival.
Interacting with different cultures does not necessarily require words, especially in a world like the
circus, where those being talked to are mostly kids. Their expressions communicated more than
any possible word; they were stunned, fascinated and amused, even forgetting about their
popcorn (and mothers know how rarely this happens).
The public seemed to already know the clown duo formed by Camilla Pessi and Simone Fassari
because they welcomed the Italians with incredible enthusiasm. Alhough dressing like clowns, I
Baccalà combined traditional circus with modern street circus.
They began with “Apple,” a manipulation of the fruit during a comic competition between the two
clowns, who continuously teased each other into action, whispering “pss pss” and providing
distractions. What really thrilled the public was the acrobatics and physical comedy which showed
the performers to be real professionals.
Connecting the first part, the trapeze and the interaction with the public was their “baccalà” facial
expression. As Simone, the male clown, explained, “We chose this name for our group because
when I was a kid my father, as well as Camilla's grandfather, used to call us baccalà,” which in
Italian literally means “codfish” and is used to connote an astonished and clumsy person with wide
eyes. “We use this expression when kids fall down or make a mess, and parents reproach them
saying ‘Don't be a baccalà,'” the female clown added.
The clowns have been performing together since Christmas, 2004. “We first met when we
attended the Dimitri School in Switzerland, and after different professional experiences and
partners, we decided to work together,” Simone said.
Camilla, who performs acrobatics with complete self-confidence, practiced competitive skiing for
15 years; when she stopped, she continued with acrobatics, linking this hobby to theater. After
graduating in 2001, Simone, as well as Camilla, attended many workshops on acrobatics, dance,
comic entertainment, while working for theater and traditional circus.
Spreading and expanding the culture of street circus is one of the aims of the International Circus
Festival. “In Italy,” I Baccalà explained, “the classical circus, with animals and traditional clowns
wearing red nose and huge shoes, has strong roots. We belong to the modern circus, we don't
represent the traditional clown, however, we also worked for the classical circus for some years.
Both traditions have chances to express themselves in Italy, even though we work more abroad.”
This is the first experience in Egypt for I Baccalà; they performed in Turkey, China, Moscow, South
Africa, Guadalupe and all over Europe. “We are particularly happy to be here in Cairo and of the
positive feedback from the public,” Camilla explained enthusiastically. “We were surprised by the
spectator's interaction during the show. The circus is an exchange between the public and the
artist. Here in Egypt, where the physical contact is not common, seeing people react positively
when we hug them during the show is amazing. This is proof of the cultural power that both circus
and theater have in overcoming cultural barriers which sometimes wrongly label us.”
EXTRAIT PRESSE
….LES BACCALA' INTREPIDES ACROBATES FARCEURS, FONT SENSATION DES LEUR ENTRE' SOUS
CHAPITEAUX, AVEC LEUR LOOK IMPAYABLE ET LEUR GRANDE MAITRISE DU MIME… ( TRIBUNE GINEVRA )
..."les clowns ITALO/suisses de I Baccala, tirent aussi formidablement leur épingle du jeu…" (R. Bo.) ( LE
MONDE )
« ... du début le gros triomphe c était le duo clownesque I Baccalà, avec un grand jeu mimique, humour fin,
et un énorme potentiel artistique- leur numeros final au trapèze c etait une prestation complète- les deux
arrivent à conquérir tout le publique de l énorme salle au Rhein-Main-Halle… » Sven Rindfleish, (D)
Geste des Clown-Pärchen „I Baccalà“, das sich mit aufgeblähten Backen und kräftigem Zittern zu
Höchstleistungen anspornte, hat bereits Nachahmer gefunden – besonders unter dem jungen Publikum. (
HEIDELBERG ZEITUNG )