| El Automovil Gris (The Grey Automobile) |
| Written by Nic Velissaris |
| Monday, 20 October 2008 01:39 |
 Left - Irene Akiko Iida. Cover - Ernesto Gomez Santana. Photos - Jose Jorge CarreonTeatro de Ciertos Habitantes' El Automovil Gris is a fascinating idea. Take an old classic Mexican silent film, El Automovil Gris (The Grey Automobile) and present it to an audience utilising the Japanese Tradition of the Benshi, storytellers who were famous for translating and recounting silent films to Japanese audiences in the 1920’s and 30’s. Layered on top of this is a selected English translation, appearing as subtitles on the screen that further mangles and twists the story. El Automovil Gris recounts the true story of the Grey Automobile (a 1914 Fiat for those interested) that terrorised Mexico City during and after the Mexican Revolution. A gang of men dressed as Policemen would knock on a rich family’s door, produce a legitimate search warrant and then proceed to rob the house and assault those who lived there, making their getaway in their Grey Automobile. The recreation of this story by Teatro de Ciertos Habitantes begins as an earnest retelling of the events which the film accurately dramatises, but soon degenerates into a broad farce, that highlights the satirical possibilities of having non-native speakers translate a film, even a silent film, to an unsuspecting audience. At times the comedy is a little simplistic but at other times it approaches the sublime, with its tongue-in-cheek references to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or the old man with big moustache who talks like Donald Duck (and it seems only natural that he does). The weakest element is easily the English translation which seems to work against the other elements that the live performers and pianist are striving to create. The live music is put to good use, playing upon accepted cinematic clichés, and enabling the Benshi performers to tap-dance and break into song at odd moments. Unfortunately the performance ends on a surreal note, because as the film itself draws to its conclusion with actual footage of the criminals being shot by a firing squad, the Benshi performers are strangely silent. Though this may be intentional, it doesn’t actually elevate the gravitas of finale or elicit the shock that it’s supposed to; instead it leaves the audience more confused than anything else. El Automovil Gris is a funny surreal experience that invigorates not only silent film but revives the Benshi tradition and even if the experience is at times uneven, it is still an experience worth having. Melbourne International Arts Festival presents El Automovil Gris (The Grey Automobile) Teatro de Ciertos Habitantes Venue: The CUB Malthouse, Merlyn Theatre When: Thu 16 – Sat 18 Oct at 8pm Duration: 1hr 30min no interval Prices: Full $35 / Groups (8+) $31.50 / Concession $26.25 / Student / MF-Y $25 Bookings: Ticketmaster 1300 136 166 / www.melbournefestival.com.au The CUB Malthouse (03) 9685 5111
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