John and the mushrooms

2011

This original music theatre performance is based on the music, texts and creative methods of John Cage. Five characters meet in John’s studio; John himself, David, Merce, Yoko and Rose. John takes the initiative to play a game together with them: There is maybe somebody here who knows what theatre is … but not what it can be, if we do like this. The performance moves between scripted parts and chance operated parts, consequently all the performances are different. Music by Cage included in the performance: The Perilous Night, Water Walk, Living Room Music, Thirteen Harmonies, 6 melodies for piano and violin, In a landscape (for unprepared solo piano), and Eight Whiskus.

Performed at Elverket, Royal Dramatic Theatre, Stockholm.

Photo from John and the mushrooms
Photo from John and the mushrooms
Photo from John and the mushrooms
Photo from John and the mushrooms
Photo from John and the mushrooms
Photo from John and the mushrooms
Photo from John and the mushrooms
Photo from John and the mushrooms
Photo from John and the mushrooms
Photo from John and the mushrooms
Photo from John and the mushrooms
Photo from John and the mushrooms
Photo from John and the mushrooms

On stage

Staffan Götheactor
Jessica Liedbergactor
Mauritz Elvingssonactor
Kristine Scholzmusician (keyboards)
Eva Lindalmusician (violin)
Anna Lindalmusician (violin)

Credits

Script and conceptJohan Petri
TextJohn Cage, Merce Cunningham, Yoko Ono, Henry David Thoreau
MusicJohn Cage, Erik Satie, The ensemble
Set and costume designDaniel Åkerström-Steen
ChoreographerNathalie Ruiz
DramaturgeTora von Platen
Lighting designMikael Karlsson
PedagogueEbba Theorell
PhotographerRoger Stenberg
Film photographerDan Lepp
ProducerFelicia Moritz Malmcrona
DirectionJohan Petri

Produced by Royal Dramatic Theatre, Stockholm, Sweden.