Pierrot | Martelle Simon-Green

I can’t explain how excited I was to see an interpretation of the story of Pierrot, let alone one this good! Pierrot’s love affair with the moon is centuries old, and yet this captivating new telling was fresh, bold, and funny. The creators managed to pull off clever social commentary whilst adding to the trove of art on Pierrot that exists throughout history. This show created big explosions for me: it is literally pure magic!

All images: Jade Ellis Photography

Pierrot’s name is his least known identifier. Originating as one of the minor stock characters in commedia dell’arte circa 16-18th century Europe; his costume was originally made up of white and black diamonds in a design that they all wore, only variated in individual colour schemes. These characters have left such a legacy on the art world, and particularly that of clowning, but also more mainstream entertainment. For example, one of the major stock characters Harlequin (who was the inspiration behind Harley Quinn in the Batman story verse) was known by his red and green diamonds.

There have been so many interpretations of Pierrot since then, and that’s why it was extremely fitting that this piece was presented by three different clowns, or as I imagined it, three of the many faces of Pierrot. For me, it felt like a dream, distantly connected to my childhood… the magical realism of the French clown with white makeup and black teardrop. The sad one. I had a mask just like it that was porcelain. I wanted to be a clown like Pierrot.

The story in this was nuanced by the players and their diverse strengths. It is so rich with symbolism. Having said this , I can still link traits that they all had in common in their different performances. Pierrot is amorous, complex, and just a little ambiguous anyway, but then there were things these different Pierrot’s did that was the same. For example, my favourite moment was one that happens countless times in the show to all three characters or faces of Pierrot, and that is the simple pleasure of Pierrot’s feeling the light of the moon before even seeing it. It created true joy for me and reminded me of the peace there is in stillness. I literally had goosebumps.

All images: Jade Ellis Photography

My favourite character changed as the three took turns, but given I am a writer I was naturally drawn to the Pierrot that was literary based and full of existential questions:

“I know sometimes you need space. Everything I do is for you. What’s a stage when you have the Galaxy? Am I interrupting something? Are they closer to you? They might like your lunar light, but do they live for it? I’m tired. You keep me up at night. Pierrot and the-moon. Ever since there was a me there was a you. Pierrot and the moon. Give me a sign”.

Ultimately, it was poetic piece for me, with each character carving out a clear niche of their own material. The poet, the movement based performer with caricatures, and the buffoon who stood out as the only Pierrot with painted white skin. It was so intimate. I felt like it was just me and them and the simply dressed stage. I went with them wherever the performers took me. At times the performance was so tiny, but I was still with them, peeking into their stillness. I left feeling quite speechless which isn’t like me.

Martelle Simon-Green’s Pierrot is not only a beautifully woven trio piece though. It’s unusual, yet also enchanting, with seduction an integral part of it. At a deep level, is also a strong and important work and a real credit to the young artists involved, as this piece is keeping obscure characters like Pierrot alive and showcases how they have developed through the ages.

Pierrot really touched me, and a small sliver of me remains with it and Backbone in the Seven Hills hub. The team managed to unlock a dream for a little old clown like me that connects to my earliest childhood. I could have watched another half hour of it, just drinking everything in. It felt precious like origami that has been folded so, so expertly. Fragile but strong. You don’t want to put it in your pocket in case you ruin it. Thoroughly entertaining.

Pierrot was written and directed by Martelle Simon-Green as a part of Backbone’s 2022 Pilot Artist in Residence Program.