![]() While studying Greek at university, I attempted a Brechtian meets Arthur Miller meets Camus existentialist-symbolist take on the genre involving Karagiozis exposing all of the internal contradictions of his paradigm, in turn causing the screen and the puppets to spontaneously combust during the performance. I had tried my hand at writing a few Karagiozis plays in my younger days. (Please, pretty please, not to appear needy, but please….)” Enthralled by her art and witnessing the delight of her students, many of whom were encountering my childhood friend for the very first time, I told her: “If ever you need a spare pair of hands, look no further. I was brought up on those barely audible, grainy recordings and even though he is long gone, whenever I think of Karagiozis or try to emulate his voice, which is quite often, since my uncle’s enthusiasm was inordinately infectious and hastened by conversion into a devotee of the art of Karagiozis, it is my uncle’s voice I hear, booming in my ear.Ī couple of years ago, inspiring Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV) Greek-language schools educator Christina Soumi presented an inspired Karagiozis shadow puppet play to my daughter’s class entitled Karagiozis in Australia. In the days before DVD’s, Youtube and mobile phones, he would travel to Greece, sit his vast video camera before a flickering TV set and record countless Karagiozis plays to bring back home to us. Bringing the play beyond the screen and into the real world, he would call me “Hatzatzari”, Karagiozis’ favourite nickname for his best friend and chief tormentee, Hatziavatis. ![]() ![]() Possessed of a deep, rumbling voice, he would insert of all the great Greek shadow puppet play hero’s catchphrases in all of his sentences, whenever he would address us. My late uncle Stathis was my first ever contact with Karagiozis.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |