The Art of the Gag

Two male performers, not so young, not so skinny, are on stage. The above description of their bodies is important since they will try to execute some gags that were originally performed by young and trained comedians. The discrepancy between their age, physical appearance, lack of training, and the fact that they have no skills when it comes to physical comedy is the major point of departure for the experiment and the show.

As the performance progresses, the gags become bigger, more technically demanding, and more ambitious regarding the apparatus. This means only one thing: The failure to execute the gags is colossal. What is taking place on stage is a Sisyphean act. The two performers are trying desperately to make the audience laugh by going bigger and bigger, more and more dangerous, and consequently enlarging the possibility of failure.

Devised and performed by Yosi Wanunu and Roland Rauschmeier
Master of Ceremony: Markus Zett
Live Piano: Vojtěch Procházka
Stage Manager: Michael Strohmann
Produced by Kornelia Kilga

In collaboration with Wiener Tanz- und Kunstbewegung (WTK)

ImPulsTanz Festival, Vienna, Aug 5 + 7, 2019