NPR: In Defense of Mime

In Defense of Mime

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Marcel Marceau passed away last week, leaving behind one of the most remarkable artistic legacies of the past century. He will likely be remembered as the preeminent ambassador of the universally recognized (and almost as universally parodied) art of mime. He was best known for his breathtaking live performances, which captivated audiences around the globe for 50 years. In addition to the innovations he made to his own art, Marceau's work was deeply influential to artists such as Mikhail Baryshnikov and Twyla Tharp. Michael Jackson said that without Marceau's "Walking Against the Wind," there would have been no Moonwalk.

As a young mime artist, Gregg Goldston chased Marceau around for over a decade before he finally met the man that would become his friend and mentor. Of Goldston Marceau once said, "His work is among the best I have ever seen." Gregg took some time earlier this week to talk to the BPP about Marceau, the state of mime artistry, and the loss of his friend.

After the bump, check out video of Gregg wrangling with an invisible hat.

Win Rosenfeld

11:22 AM ET | 09-28-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Interesting video. I bet Fresh Air wishes that it had its own video producer and blog now.

If this was accompanying an interview on the show, I bet that I would hear about how the art of mime has influenced other artists and helped inspire the King of Pop's Moonwalk, as Win mentioned in the post.

Sent by Steve Petersen | 12:36 PM ET | 09-28-2007

When I told my wife that Marceau had died, she replied, "Yeah, I was gonna tell you, but I couldn't find the words." :-) Made me wonder if six mimes would pretend to carry a casket at the funeral; Marcel would probably have liked that.

Sent by andy carvin | 2:34 PM ET | 09-28-2007

Interesting and sweet! He'll be missed...

Sent by James III | 5:06 PM ET | 09-28-2007

I am terribly sad to lose M. Marceau. It is lovely, in turn, to know that Mr. Goldston knew him and carries the influence of his art with such grace and poetry. I first saw Marcel Marceau as a girl and the performance was one of the building blocks of my life as a dancer.

Sent by Starr | 5:51 PM ET | 09-28-2007

Marcel left a legacy that the art of mime can continue to culture and build upon.
We can look at his passing as a loss, but the man shared his art his entire life... right to the end.
He was the first ripple in the pool.
What more can anyone ask than to have your passion and life's work live beyond you?

Sent by kh | 10:52 PM ET | 09-28-2007

Marcel Marceau was a musician. He was a master of the space between the notes... orchestrating the silence with his craft for movement. He was a master of those things not so easily boxed up in little neat containers. He was a singer of the heart songs we all experience in the quiet realms of our inner space and emotional beings... a man of many qualities... and above all, a person of great love for the things we all have in common. Marcel was a more than a mime, he was truly one in a million and yet... Bip was all of us!

Sent by Gary Boggess | 2:13 AM ET | 09-29-2007

Mr. Marceau died on Gregg Goldston's birthday.

Sent by dw | 10:32 AM ET | 09-29-2007

the production quality of this video is a bit amateur for NPR no?

Sent by bkr | 2:17 PM ET | 09-30-2007

As someone who was moved many times by the work of Mr. Marceau, this was a lovely tribute! Thanks for taking a moment to reflect on a very misunderstood art.

Sent by Julie P | 5:52 PM ET | 09-30-2007

It is a great testiment to both men, the teacher and the student, that Mr. Goldston has picked up the art without skipping a beat. Art of any kind is great when it is done exceptionally well.

Sent by Larry Bach | 6:32 PM ET | 09-30-2007

I'd like to hear is at least one pub radio show just say Marcel Marceau is gone and since this is radio, we are incapable of conveying how wonderful he was.
Perhaps that could come right before the dance coverage segment.

Sent by Craig Kenworthy | 6:32 PM ET | 09-30-2007

Gregg is one of the finest performers and teachers of our art. It stings a bit when the press says that there is no one to carry on after Marceau. There are many, and we are all over the world, practicing this beautiful art form.

Sent by Michael Lee | 10:16 PM ET | 09-30-2007

Gregg is the torchbeasrer of the artform and monsieur marceua loved him. Its so sad to see another master leave this plane, but joyful to see who will follow. great job gregg

Sent by Patric | 3:28 PM ET | 10-01-2007

Bon Voyage, Mon Capitaine!
Allez avec Dieu...

Sent by Perry Perrault | 1:17 PM ET | 10-03-2007

One of the central art experiences of my life was presenting The Invisible People at a university back in the 1980s. Marcel Marceau is alive in Gregg's work and in any collaborations Gregg has done or may do in the future. MM and GG both show us that art is about love. What a gift!

Sent by Maureen Cronin | 1:40 PM ET | 10-03-2007

Thank you, Gregg for your good words and fleeting movement, and for helping us ask why our culture has turned away from mime. Keep up your excellent work.

Sent by Christian Swenson | 11:58 PM ET | 10-03-2007

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