Building Wing-Man
Some people have asked where the inspiration for “Wing-Man” came from…
Well… The inspiration comes from the simple tradition of the clown in relation to modern times. Charlie Chaplin, of course, created the most well-known exploration of this juxtaposition in his classic film “Modern Times”. But the idea that the clown reflects what is happening in the world around us is not a new idea. What makes it new with each generation is whatever “new” happening in the world at that time.
I also wanted to challenge myself by creating a one-man show that would tell a story with no words. I began by assembling old routines that I have developed throughout my career to see what story presented itself to me.
I wanted the show to reflect what is happening in social media and the addiction that I, and so many others around me, seem to have to it. Why do we have this addiction? People want to connect and are looking for more ways to connect to each other. But I found it fascinating to explore – are people truly connecting through this medium?
Then I thought about why people go to the theater and how that is another way to connect. Live performance is different then going to the movies. In theater, there’s an indescribable connection between the performers and the audience and among the people in the audience with each other.
Is social media it’s own sort of theater for our time? In choosing what you post, you are your own director and writer and tell your story to your audience (of both friends and strangers). The story you want to tell, the one you want the outside world to see, is not always the full truth.
“Wing-Man” is my exploration of these ideas and how they connect through technology, humor, and interacting with both a live and virtual audience.
-Mark
