Théophile Hippolyte Sébastien Lacroix visits Marianne Larue and suggests different outings that she declines without exception, with a simple “noa” (nan-an). After Théodore’s departure, Marianne keeps answering this to all outside noises, even when the curtain goes down and the theater lights go off. Marianne’s shape can still be seen through the partly transparent curtain, while it grows excessively. The play ends with a young man’s ironic and “coarse” whistle.

String marionette

Not specified

Craig Edward Gordon

Italy

Leghorn

Printed

Woman

Seduction

Unrequited love

Invitation

Refusal

Language

Bilinguism

Comical

Satirical

Fantastic

Edward Gordon Craig, Noa.

English

Une conversation marionnettique en style "snap-shot"

Running gag

Comedy of language

Off-stage noise

Light effects

Lowering the curtain during action

Commentary

Nan-an

Blind Woman is lying on her bed, which is on top of her house, and narrating her unsuccessful love stories to Doctor Fell. Her tale lasts for a few days. It ends when the curtain falls and a Marionette comes to announce that the Theatre Director found a way to make her stop her storytelling by gifting her a ring which grants one wish. Blind Woman declares to Doctor Fell that she wants revenge on Jupiter. Thanks to the ring, she turns into a Sphinx to force Jupiter to surrender to her power by asking him riddles. She asks Doctor Fell to dress up as a nanny. Jupiter is sailing at sea, dressed as a ship’s captain. He receives a call from Mama Ops, his mother, who wishes him to meet a smart woman and lets him know that she revealed his location to Blind Woman. Jupiter is distraught and reaches the boat of Blind Boy, Cockatrice, and Columbus, who also decide to dress up to mislead Blind Woman. The latter awaits Jupiter on a dock, under the guise of a Sphinx. She is persuaded that he disguised himself as a woman to get away from her. Jupiter, as a captain, lands with Blind-Boy, Cockatrice, and Columbus, who cross-dress as the Three Graces. Blind Woman, who thinks Cockatrice to be Jupiter, asks him a riddle and snatches his veil. Cockatrice appears, wearing a nightgown and makeup as a lady. Blind Woman faints into Doctor Fell’s arms while the others take this opportunity to get back on the ship and flee. 
When she comes to her senses, she meets a Watchman and tries to trick him with a riddle as well, while the curtain falls.

Marina di Pisa

Latin Mythology

Mother

Sphinx

Riddle

Boat

Adventure

Fantasy

Blind

Physician

Puppet

Jupiter (Jove)

Cybele

Rhea

Blind Boy

Cockatrice

Basilic

Parrot

Columbus

Sailor

Mayor

City councillor

Night watchman

Ellipsis

Address to the public

Metamorphosis

Boat mounted on wheels

Talking on the phone

Off-stage voice

Scene of recognition

Disguised character (false identity)

Cross-dressing

Comic speech

Instrumental tune

Anachronism

Jupiter & the Sphinx

Jupiter et le Sphinx

A theoretician is giving a lecture on philosophical and artistic concepts inherent to objects and mentioning ancient philosophers and Bauhaus artists, among other people. However, he is constantly interrupted by his assistant sharing information with him, by technical problems or elements that seem out of control: microphones moving in all directions, the light being turned off, objects falling, … In a second part, the conference goes over different works of the company and reveals the creative processes behind the shows and the common thread bringing them together. At the end, the theoretician tries to resume his lecture without success; the technician’s body mysteriously appears on the floor and a phantasmagorical atmosphere spreads. Curtains are brought down several times while the action of the play continues.

Object theatre

All audiences

Portugal

Porto

Storyboard

Language comedy

Failure

Impossibility to communicate

Animated object

Memory

Phantom

Philosophical tale

Igor Gandra, A revolta dos objetos. Uma conferência animada (Teatro de Ferro, 2021)