From the Greek Mimes to Marcel Marceau and Beyond: Mimes, Actors, Pierrots and Clowns: A Chronicle of the Many Visages of Mime in the Theatre

About the Book

One of the few studies covering the historical flow of mime from its beginnings to postmodern movement theatre, this book explores the evolution of mime and pantomime from the Greeks to the twentieth century, depicting the role of mime in dance, clowing, the cinema, and verbal theatre throughout the centuries. With over sixty illustrations, this worldwide study is indispensible for the student, teacher, or fan of mime.

Table of Contents:

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction: On the Meaning of Mime and Pantomime
Major Developments of the Art of Mime in the Occident and Orient
Exponents of Twentieth-Century Mime Schools and Movement Styles
Part One: Mime through the Ages
1 Mime, First Language and Art: Mime in Greece and Rome
2 Mimes and Jongleurs of the Middle Ages
3 Origins of the Commedia Dell'Arte and the Theatres de la Foire
4 Gaspard Deburau and the Pierrots of the Nineteenth Century
5 English Pantomime
6 Mime and Movement in German, Russian, and Italian Theatre
7 Exit Pierrot. Enter Georges Wague
Part Two: Twentieth-Century Mime
8 Etienne Decroux, Father of Corporeal Mime
9 Jean-Louis Barrault
10 Marcel Marceau
11 Jacques Lecoq
12 Mimes of Twentieth-Century Europe
13 Mime and Movement Theatre in North America
14 Women's Voices in Mime
15 Movement and Silence in Modern and Postmodern Verbal Theatre
16 Whither Mime?
Appendixes
A School and Centers for Movement Training
B Archives, Resource Centers, and Artist Directories; Periodicals and Publications; Library and Museum Collections; Pantomime and Mime Scripts and Bookshop Collections; Festivals
C Filmography
Works Consulted and Cited
Index
About the Author

About the Author :
Annette Bercut Lust is professor emerita at Dominican College where she teaches courses in beginning mime, theatre production, dramatic literature, and French language and literature. For her teaching and publication on the French School of Mime, she received the Palmes Académiques from the French government in 1973. An active producer and director, Lust produces the annual Bay Area Original One-Act Play and Solo Festival at Dominican College.

Review :
Lust...has produced a comprehensive history of mime and a rich analysis of its current state...Thanks to Lust's involvement in international mime festivals, she can present detailed accounts of the diverse work currently being done. The volume includes ...an excellent bibliography. Recommended for all theatre collections. Of the books in the field of mime and movement theatre during the last half of the twentieth century..this work is unique...Through her love and devotion to mime and movement theatre..Annette Lust endows this book with her integrity...a much needed historical survey as well as a detailed and reflective statement-of-the-art report. ...the book offers encyclopedic coverage of most of the leading lights of movement theatre in the Western hemisphere since 1950. There are very useful appendices, listing schools and curricula for movement training; archives, resource centers and performer directories; periodicals; library and museum collections; and festivals. The annotated bibliography is copious...There are plenty of well-reproduced and expressive illustrations. Beginning with a fascinating history of mime and pantomime from antiquity down to our day, Annette Lust carefully documents how different writers, critics, and mimes distinguish these two different arts in varying and contrasting ways. Her work responds to the call of mime and movement theatre organizations in Europe and in America to establish archives and information services for new findings in the art of mime, more documented research, and descriptions of new styles of mime art. Fascinating for both the lay person as well as the scholar...Dr. Lust's work is so detailed and comprehensive that I cannot list all of the outstanding women artists and their contributions that the author cites. I strongly recommend this book... Lust documents for both the mime theatergoer and for the serious student the critical turning points in the evolution of mime in a highly understandable way that makes her book an ideal companion to all who are interested in learning about this entertaining art form.