Modern Medieval: I Am The Mask You Wear

With Modern Medieval, his one-man show, David Tyson has hit on an intriguing idea, using theatrical styles from the Dark Ages to reflect on current events (which he considers to be a new Dark Ages, thanks to current politics and our national obsession with greed).  He keeps one foot in the past and one in our own time, with pop culture references from both eras flying fast and furious.

The show is three short stories, during which Master Storyteller Tyson plays all the roles, often through the use of masks. 

The first is a variation on the classic Everyman, in which the titular character gets a visit from Master Death, and is allowed to bring someone along- he goes through his friends, his family, his greed, and his lawyer, hoping to get a companion or a reprieve.
The second is full of political satire: the story of a soldier at war, at the behest of a despotic King who has a vice president viceroy named Dick.
The third is a Harlequin story (not the romance novels, the Commedia dell'Arte Harlequin)- despondent over his failed romance with Columbina, he lists off various ways of killing himself, and the cons of each.  Though I know it's one of the standard Commedia lazzi, I couldn't help but think Dorothy Parker's poem "Resume" was much more succinct.

Mr. Tyson is a gifted performer.  His mask work and vocal stylings are very impressive, and the show is entertaining, full of humorously misquoted Shakespeare and allusions to great literature.  Some of the references seem a little bit dated, but still enjoyable.

However, medieval morality plays by their very nature tend toward the didactic, and the show never quite loses a professorial tone.  It has an undeniably academic feel; and even if the class is run by the cute and funny teacher who eventually engages his students, à la Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society, the show carries the stigma of a good-for-you instructional video.  Mr. Tyson's resume includes other shows which do tour schools and renaissance festivals, so perhaps the pedagoguery is not too surprising.

I also took exception to personating Greed (in the Everyman play) with a mask that had a gigantic hook-nose; Greed also uses the word "schtupping" (the only Yiddish term in the evening) and (mis)quotes The Merchant of Venice in a voice that sounds vaguely like a Ferengi.  I'm sure causal anti-Semitism is true to the medieval spirit, but it's not terribly modern.  Of course, this could just be me reading too deeply into it.

RETRACTION: Mr. Tyson contacted me to let me know that his "Greed" was based on the Commedia character of Pulcinella, and is in no way intended to be an Anti-Semitic caricature.  In his words: "Pulcinella is more than likely a descendant of the Atellanae Farces character, Maccus.Both of these historical characters have hooked noses and a lot of 'negative attitude.'I refer you to John Rudlin's, Commedia dell'arte – An Actor's Handbook, and to Pierre Louis Duchartre's- The Italian Comedy, for further reference."
I apologize for misinterpreting a centuries-old tradition.

Warning: There is some Audience Participation, so if you find that sort of thing distasteful, it's probably best to sit in the back.

Modern Medieval
Under St. Mark's
94 St. Mark's Place
(between 1st Ave & Avenue A)

Part of the FRIGID Festival
Running time: 60 minutes

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