V I N G T I È M E T H É Â T R E
Armed with piano and violoncello
At the beginning the actors still fight the obstinacy of the thing, but than they discover the obstinacy of themselves. And in the case that looks could kill both would go west already after three minutes and the piece would meet its sudden end. No, friends will this fictitious counterparts never get on stage. Therefore the two swallowtail wearers compete with each other all the more for the audience’s favour for eight years. «Duel – Opus 2» is the second part of this everlasting competition which celebrates its premiere in Paris. Obviously competition is in fact good for business.
All around the globe Laurent Cirade, the French, and Paul Staïcu, the Romanian, have been on tour with their first programme. Their daily 90-minute-challenge is done almost without words. The two divas swear with their gesture and avenge themselves with the help of their instruments only - always anxious to keep at least a little bit of countenance in front of the audience. But please not too much reservation. Where use of Ballantine’s is unashamedly made to get a deep blues voice and the cellist carpenters quickly a coffin for his pianist colleague on stage, the spectactor should not be too tender-hearted. Of course, the jealousy scene about the violoncello, the later birth of a burping and peeling violin and an inflatable replacement of the favourite instrument sound not like grandiloquent humour. But slapstick presented restrained like here is nothing negative. Far from it.
Both adversaries are well-trained concert instrumentalists. Paul Staïcu (piano, melodica, harmonica) has worked with many jazz stars and bigbands and Laurent Cirade (violoncello, didgeridoo, musical saw) was member of the Orchestre National de France before «Duel». Classical music clearly dominates the programme but there are also excursions into modernity and even a-capella intermezzi. Lionel Ritchie’s «Say You, Say Me» has to be the one to suffer for an interpretation and – due to Ballantine’s – Barry White, too. On the birthdays of Staïcu and Cirade musical talents must have been on offer. Maybe that is also why the both are not too modest to thank in their acceptance speech Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Strauß for the ad hoc composed music. «With pleasure», would they surely answer.
Résumé: Musical and humorous an excellent production. Very recommendable!
► «Duel – Opus 2» in the season 2009/10 at the Vingtième Théâtre. With Laurent Cirade, Paul Staïcu. Staging: Agnès Boury; lights: Philippe Quillet. ► Further reviews at the
review archives
Armed with piano and violoncello
At the beginning the actors still fight the obstinacy of the thing, but than they discover the obstinacy of themselves. And in the case that looks could kill both would go west already after three minutes and the piece would meet its sudden end. No, friends will this fictitious counterparts never get on stage. Therefore the two swallowtail wearers compete with each other all the more for the audience’s favour for eight years. «Duel – Opus 2» is the second part of this everlasting competition which celebrates its premiere in Paris. Obviously competition is in fact good for business.
All around the globe Laurent Cirade, the French, and Paul Staïcu, the Romanian, have been on tour with their first programme. Their daily 90-minute-challenge is done almost without words. The two divas swear with their gesture and avenge themselves with the help of their instruments only - always anxious to keep at least a little bit of countenance in front of the audience. But please not too much reservation. Where use of Ballantine’s is unashamedly made to get a deep blues voice and the cellist carpenters quickly a coffin for his pianist colleague on stage, the spectactor should not be too tender-hearted. Of course, the jealousy scene about the violoncello, the later birth of a burping and peeling violin and an inflatable replacement of the favourite instrument sound not like grandiloquent humour. But slapstick presented restrained like here is nothing negative. Far from it.
Both adversaries are well-trained concert instrumentalists. Paul Staïcu (piano, melodica, harmonica) has worked with many jazz stars and bigbands and Laurent Cirade (violoncello, didgeridoo, musical saw) was member of the Orchestre National de France before «Duel». Classical music clearly dominates the programme but there are also excursions into modernity and even a-capella intermezzi. Lionel Ritchie’s «Say You, Say Me» has to be the one to suffer for an interpretation and – due to Ballantine’s – Barry White, too. On the birthdays of Staïcu and Cirade musical talents must have been on offer. Maybe that is also why the both are not too modest to thank in their acceptance speech Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Strauß for the ad hoc composed music. «With pleasure», would they surely answer.
Résumé: Musical and humorous an excellent production. Very recommendable!
► «Duel – Opus 2» in the season 2009/10 at the Vingtième Théâtre. With Laurent Cirade, Paul Staïcu. Staging: Agnès Boury; lights: Philippe Quillet. ► Further reviews at the
review archives
5 
breathtaking | 4 very nice | 3 entertaining | 2 disappointing | 1 bad
breathtaking | 4 very nice | 3 entertaining | 2 disappointing | 1 bad
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