Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Happenstance Theater’s BAROCOCO meticulously, playfully recreates late 18th century aristocratic manners

• By drediman
• March 3, 2022
• No Comments

Last night, I attended a performance of Barococo at Theater B of Off-Broadway’s 59E59 Theaters. Mounted by Washington, DC-based Happenstance Theater, the comedic piece depicts a group of French aristocrats as they frivolously and decadently amuse themselves one evening towards the end of the 18th century (a period known as Rococo or Late Baroque). Little do they know, however, that the violent end of their class and lavish lifestyle is right at their doorstep.

Essentially, Barococo is a work of physical theater that uses a curated mixture of highly pantomimed gestures, Baroque dance, and period music-making (largely provided by Caleb Jaster, who plays the evening’s court musician). In presentation, the characters seem to be trapped in some sort of purgatorial loop of amusements, calling to mind absurdist plays like No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre. At the end of the day, however, Barococo – which runs just over an hour – registers more like an amusing, well-researched exercise in the meticulous yet playful recreation of Rococo manners than substantial theater.

The production has been stylishly devised by company artistic directors Mark Jaster and Sabrina Selma Mandell (both also appear in the piece) alongside the show’s other company members. Together, their disciplined, elegantly choreographed work creates a series of striking tableaus. The cast of six performers – gorgeously costumed and wigged by Ms. Mandell in period-perfect outfits – make for a skilled ensemble, and they indulge in the play’s carefully wrought shenanigans with glee and wit.

RECOMMENDED

BAROCOCO
Off-Broadway, Play
Happenstance Theater at 59E59 Theaters
1 hour, 5 minutes (without an intermission)
Through March 6