Razzamataz Kids’ Shows! presents the hilarious Faustwork production of ‘The Mask Messenger’ this Sunday February 22. The show starts at 2pm at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion in Haliburton.
This outstanding performance is the third Razzamataz show of this season, and isn’t a story or ritual but an improv show about masks and recognizable characters.
Creator Rob Faust, says he brings a variety of around 25 masks to every show. Some are worn on the face, some masks are worn on the back of the head and a few a worn on top of the head. While many masks are brought, Faust only ends up using between 18-20 masks depending on the audience. And since every audience is different, every show isn’t always the same.
“Masks have a universal appeal. They have been used by almost every cultural, “says Faust. “They help to explain the forces of evil, to connect us with our ancestors, they protect us, and they delight us. So because of that appeal and the power of transformation, I think masks will always fascinate people. It happens right in front of your eyes – with no tricks or editing. You turn around, your back to the audience to put on a mask and then turn to face the audience with a new character, there is just this feeling of ‘where did that guy go and look who’s here now’”.
Faust, a New Orleans native, grew up with the whole carnival Mardi Gras atmosphere.
“I grew up wearing masks every year on the streets at Mardi Gras parties, until I saw how much fun they were. When I was studying performing arts, I took a class where we were using masks as training tools and I saw their power of instant transformation and that’s what got me.”
The message in ‘The Mask Messenger’ is simple, we all have many masks inside of us.
“I want people to feel free to express many sides of themselves to many different people,” says Faust. “We are all interested in transformation – we want to change and yet we resist change. I want people to come away from the show a little bit more relaxed and feel like they can stretch into different roles and reveal not just their happy side or their sad side – but to get out there, talk about, express it, move through it. So when they see me doing this, literally embodying this message by changing my body, changing characters, I want people to think ‘yeah, I can do this in my life.”
Faust isn’t new to the Haliburton Highlands. He has taught mask making and mask movement at Fleming College a couple of years ago, and has relaxed as a cottager as well.
Monday following the performance, some students at JDH will be attending a mask making course where they will learn body awareness exercises and attempt to bring masks to life by using their bodies. Faust says he finds some kids gain confidence while wearing masks.
“That’s the nature of the mask- you feel safe behind it and with that safety you have confidence to be more expressive because then you can be like ‘hey it wasn’t me it was the mask.”
Tickets to ‘The Mask Messenger’ are available at the door – $8 for adults, $6 for kids and those under two are free. Tickets are also available online at www.razzamataz.ca
Razzamataz Kids’ Shows! is a local non-profit volunteer group that has been bringing high quality live children’s entertainment to Haliburton County for close to 30 years.
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