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 SEANNA VAN HELTEN talks to SHAUN PARKER, the creator, choreographer and performer in acclaimed multimedia dance-theatre piece BLUE LOVE.
Meet Glenn and Rhonda. Happily married and hapless romantics, this ordinary couple in the ‘burbs explore the highs and lows in the search of the perfect relationship in Blue Love, a theatrical blend of dance, music, film and song, devised and choreographed by Shaun Parker.
Inspired by the dominant theme of romantic love in art, media, and pop culture, Blue Love rolls each of these elements into one mischievous mash-up of styles. Simultaneously, Parker explains, the piece also explores the idiosyncrasies of an archetypal couple’s relationship. The characters Glenn and Rhonda “think they are the TomKat of the suburbs,” Parker jokes. “You look in the media, at all the celebrity couples, the Brangelinas and the TomKats,” he continues,” and it’s such an obsession: the idea that the individual is defined by love, and you’re only valid if you’re a cool, interesting couple.”
The couple “think they have the perfect relationship,” Parker explains. “But from what appears to be a perfect marriage, the cracks in the relationship emerge. With tongue firmly in cheek – there’s always an element of humour in the work as well – they talk about the culture of love: everything from art to Shakespeare to tacky pop songs.”
Tacky pop songs were, in fact, the source of Parker’s initial inspiration for a piece about love. In a karaoke bar in Vienna, “I was singing really bad 1980s love songs, and I was thinking to myself…how I’d love to do a piece of dance or theatre with only one-liners from pop songs, really carefully chosen so they’re the only dialogue that’s ever spoken.” This concept developed into a major scene in what would become the live theatrical show, Blue Love.
Before that, however, the piece began life as a series of short films – the “home movies” of Glenn and Rhonda. “In the theatre show they actually show the audience their home movies, which are the short films. I wanted to use the films as a commentary. This couple watch themselves, and almost like psychologists, they talk about their own relationship,” says Parker.
Part of the work’s pleasure, the creator says, has been the deconstruction of romantic clichés as well as the tongue-in-cheek democratisation of high art and lowbrow pop culture. “Artists are really inspired by love, romantic love and its downfalls,” says Parker. “What’s more valid – a pop song or a sculpture in an art gallery? Who knows? I like the idea to study love in all the art forms.
“We worked really hard, dramaturgically, at linking all the elements together. The films, the songs, the text and the dance. It all had to be there for a reason, every single element,” he continues, “so that Glenn and Rhonda’s relationship has a lot of ‘history.’”
Blue Love has toured extensively, and Parker has performed the work in Germany, Singapore, New Zealand, Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne. He says the ways in which audiences respond to the work’s various segments often surprises him. “The show is possibly holding a mirror back at the audience. I think that’s why they find it funny at different spots. And you realise something must have struck a chord with someone.”
Parker continues: “Partners always have a lot of fun.” However, a caveat from the creator himself: “My cousins got engaged [after seeing Blue Love] in Melbourne. However, be warned, other friends of mine told me they had an argument after the show!” He jokes: “What sort of can of worms do we open up? It could go either way, lovers, be careful!”
BLUE LOVE plays at Roundhouse Theatre, Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove Urban Village from April 28 until May 9. Ph: 3007 8600 or visit www.laboite.com.au.
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