The Rainforest Circus Returns...

It was a mad dash to the finish line (when isn't it a mad dash to the finish line?), but the Rainforest Circus magically transformed itself into a 1/2 hour staged collage of film, dance, music, theatre, sculpture, shadow and more this past weekend.  Video and light designer Scott Tilley took footage from the summer circus, along with Chris Hind's and Jocelyne Chaput's beautiful film work, and created a film experience I doubt the Raven's Cry has ever seen before. Installation artists Sandy Buck and William Christenson built a tree - a tree! - for the stage, out of driftwood, salal, cedar boughs and fabric that doubled as a shadow screen for the return of Katherine Denham's dancing deer. William and Scott both worked on a light installation for Chad Hershler's Ringmaster - a campfire on stage, that made it seem like the Ringmaster had once again been foiled by his nemesis (and love), Helga. Sandy Buck, dressed in her standard black outfit with mask and hair-piece, owned the stage as Helga herself - turning lights on and off, cueing music, making the magic happen. And, of course, our maestro magician himself - Steve Wright - dominated the soundwaves with his original music, soundscapes and all round audio mischief.

Special thank you's to Cat Main, theatre artist extraordinaire, who parachuted in at the 11th hour to turn a collosal heap of ideas into something stageworthy and beautiful, to Ross Powell our stage manager, Doug Proby on lights and Peter Lietz on sound.  And of course: the artistic director of the festival, Nancy Cottingham Powell, for inviting us to the festivities.  It was a treat to take part in another classy showcase of the diverse artistic talent that we're surrounded by here on the coast.