Butterfly Effect - ressourcesfeministes

50
1 opening night. The performance was by the Performing Older Women’s Circus
(POW Circus) established in Melbourne in 1995. Maureen (Maurs) O’Connor was
a founding member. She was also a fine and funny clown and head techie until
the end of 1997. Maureen’s life is recorded by Jean Taylor in The C-Word (2000).
2 querent. The theme for the 1998 show was tarot. The performers used these
images to explore different aspects of the cards. Shuffle, cut, stack. Images from
the POW deck. Over the Top. “Over the Top with Tarot” was performed from 24
to 26 September 1998 at the Pit Theatre, Footscray Community Arts Centre.
3 cathedral. A double balance in which the base lies on her back with legs vertical.
The flyer places her head between the feet, holding hands with the base and she
springs into an inverted position on the base’s feet.
4 highest point. The highest point in the show was an inverted hanging position in
the space between two trapezes. The invert and the between space both represent
lesbian existence.
5 Fool. The first and final card in the Tarot pack. It represents creativity and
openness to life which comes with wisdom. As a clown, Maurs was more than
familiar with the Fool. Indeed, lesbians take to clowning with great relish.
Having discarded conventional women’s roles, it is relatively easy to take the
next step and to act out unrestrained impulses which most would not dream of
doing. Maurs’ clown self was shy, unprepossessing, with a timid walk, and facial
expressions which ranged from shame to sheer joy. One finds examples of
clowning and humour from figures in Greek literature such as Baubo, who lifted
her skirts and made the goddess Demeter laugh again.