The European Lesson
The European Lesson (2008) was a production by Jo Strømgren Kompani and Philadelphia Live Art Festivals: Stereotypes, weird coins and strange customs. Amiable hospitality and charming accents. And an immense variety of souvenirs to bring home. But are you being fooled? What really lurks behind an indigenous smile?
According to Jo Strømgren Kompani, The European Lesson was a cultural searching which took you as far from the tourist leaflets as it was possible to come, in a comical, semi-realistic lesson in which an American anthropologist and four Europeans, supposedly imported from Slovakia provided the answers.
The list of performances is complete.
Information
(Objekt ID 4460)| Object type | Production |
| Premiere | August 31, 2008 |
| Produced by | |
| Coproducers | Jo Strømgren Kompani |
| Audience | Adults, Youth |
| Language | English, Gibberish and Esperanto |
| Keywords | Dance, Dance theatre, Physical theatre, Comedy, Theatre |
| Running period | August 31, 2008 — June 14, 2009 |
| Duration | 60 minutes, no interval |
| Website | Jo Strømgren Kompani |
In The European Lesson by Jo Strømgren Kompani, produced on commission from Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, the audience was invited to a journey through the hidden corners of Europe to the last remaining prototype of sustainable culture.
"Through scenes from authentic Slovakian daily life with simultaneous language translation and in-depth explanations, to a glimpse of the quintessence of Europeanity, to actually taste the last pickle in the European jar", as the company puts it.
At least this was what the audience was made to believe at the entrance. The point was of course that this show was all about crashing. About the demolition of a convinced idealist, and about how ridiculous it can look from the outside.
The European Lesson was Philadelphia Live Arts Festival's first international commission. The production was performed by an all-American cast.
Touring: USA, Norway.
Sources:
Jo Strømgren Kompani, jskompani.no, 08.08.2010, http://jskompani.no/productions/17
Porsgrunn International Theatre Festival, pit.no, 29.07.2010, http://2009.pit.no/show_details.asp?ID=683
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Jo Strømgren | – Script |
| Jo Strømgren | – Direction |
| Jo Strømgren | – Choreography |
| Jo Strømgren | – Stage design |
| Jo Strømgren | – Costume design |
| Jo Strømgren | – Lighting design |
| David Todaro | – Lighting design |
| Aaron Cromie | – Actor |
| Catharine K. Slusar | – Actor |
| Jeb Kreager | – Actor |
| Sarah Sanford | – Actor |
| John Zak | – Actor |
| Lea Pascal | – Stage manager |
| Lea Pascal | – Director’s assistant |
| Jon Brighton | – Sound technician |
| Nick Kourtedes | – Consultant (Lydkonsulent) |
| June 14, 2009 – Rådhuset, Porsgrunn, Porsgrunn International Theatre Festival | Show |
| June 13, 2009 – Rådhuset, Porsgrunn, Porsgrunn International Theatre Festival | Show |
| June 5, 2009 – Store Sal, Bærum Kulturhus | Show |
| June 3, 2009 | Show |
| June 2, 2009 | National premiere, Norway |
| September 6, 2008 | Show |
| September 5, 2008 | Show |
| September 4, 2008 | Show |
| September 3, 2008 | Show |
| August 31, 2008 | Worldwide premiere |
| Porsgrunn International Theatre Festival | June 13, 2009 |
| Bergen International Festival | June 2, 2009 |
| FringeArts | August 31, 2008 |
Writer and date unknown, Broad Street Review [USA]:
"Strømgren’s direction infuses mesmerizing imagery."