"Town & Country" (1991) Flashcards
When was “Town & Country” created and performed?
Created in 1991, but performed again as part of the triple bill in 2012, celebrating New Adventures 25th Anniversary.
What are the constituent features of “Town & Country”?
Music: Percy Grainger’s “Country Garden”
Dancers: 4, 2 male 2 female
Physical set: Large backdrop of the countryside, wearing traditional country dress. Women = white bonnet and dress. Men = white tunic and shorts.
What is significant about “Town & Country”?
First full-length work.
What is the subject matter of “Town & Country”
Bourne’s first full-length work, commenting on the British stereotypes, and the social class system.
Give a movement example from “Town & Country” that shows Bourne’s influence of Ashton’s characterisation, Musicals, link to subject matter, gestural movements, humour.
Movement - All 4 dancers are DSL, the two men hinge forwards at the hips and with their wrists joint, splay their fingers to represent cow udders. The females are crouched next to the men and pretend to milk the udders, before looking at the audience sharply. Later, the two men are on all 4s facing DSL, and the women sit on their backs facing USR. The women make a cup and saucer gesture and drink their tea, whilst the males pretend to be cows chewing on grass with expressive faces.
Interpretation - The men are the cows on the farm, and the women are enjoying a cup of tea using the milk from the cow. The gestural moves show Lea Andersons influence over the pedestrian gestures. The expressions link to Bourne’s choreographic style as dancers must be actors.
Give a movement example from “Town & Country” that shows Bourne’s integral use of music.
Movement: direct correlation of 4 little hops changing feet, whilst clapping hands in front of body, with each dancer taking their own circular pathway.
