Introduction

The continuing art adventures of Doofus and the Duck and their Company of players, as created by my wonderful wife Emma during the never-ending time of COVID-19 pandemic continuing now for a third year into 2022. This is the eighteenth installment of works, the Company remaining at the height of their creative endeavors.

Without further ado, back to the Doofus and the Duck…

January 2022

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the Cycling of the Year in the Gregorian Calendar System (and in the fervent hope of a better twelve months for all than the last), and in memory of French 20th Century master Henri Émile Benoît Matisse’s “second life” (“une seconde vie”), an early cut paper collage that was a study for the curtain design of Sergei Diaghilev’s “Ballets Russes” performance of “Rouge et Noir,” entitled “Two Dancers (Deux danseurs) (1937–38),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Magnificent Dancer in Yellow; and Shaun the Sheep as The Dancer in Black

An outstanding early cut-out from Matisse delightfully and beautifully reimagined by the Company. Excellent work from the actors (the Bandicoot really does seem to enjoy doing Modern Art!) and the Design Dept. Simply stunning!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the up-coming (Southern Hemisphere) Festival of Midsummer, their tableau of a work by late-19th/early 20th Century Norwegian landscape painter Nikolai Astrup, entitled “Midsummer Eve Bonfire (1926),” featuring the Purple Hippo as An Inquisitive Little Fellow

Very fine work from the Production Dept in recreating this lovely piece from an artist who should be much better known outside of Norway. The setting is a delight, the little people do excellent work, and the lighting is magical. Outstanding!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the 103rd anniversary of the death of the 26th President of the US of A, Theodore Roosevelt, their tableau of the most well-known work by 20th Century US figurative artist Grant Wood, entitled “American Gothic (1930),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Daughter of the House; and also starring Shaun the Sheep as The “Pinched, Grim-Faced, Puritanical Bible-thumper” Father

A delightfully ironic take on the American icon; less “American Gothic” and more “South Island Sheep Farmer. Fantastic work from the Bandicoot and Mr the Sheep! Stunning!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the nearly-now forgotten festival of Saint Distaff’s Day, and in recognition of the importance of Rapid Antigen Tests in combating the on-going pestilence of COVID-19’s Omikron variant, their interpretation of a work by the UK street artist known as Banksy, entitled “My Wife Hates It When I Work From Home (2020),” featuring the Rattus Doofii as Themselves

Quite speechless really…

Doofus and the Duck present, in celebration of the on-going major Exhibition of Henri Matisse’s work at the NSW Art Gallery (“Matisse: Life & Spirit/Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou, Paris”) and in ironical commentary of the recent immigration farce inflicted on the “King of Tennis,” Novak Djokovic, their tableau of the large “cut out” that is Henri Matisse’s final self-portrait, entitled “Sorrow of the King (1952),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Artist as King David; and featuring China Baby as the odalisque Orient

Another exceedingly fine work by the Company in recreating, with great verisimilitude, Matisse’s magnificent, and enormous, work. A stunning achievement!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of 217th anniversary of the Creation of the Michigan Territories, their tableau of a famous work by 19th Century American artist George Caleb Bingham, famed for his Luminist-style paintings of life on the American Frontier, entitled “Fur Traders Descending the Missouri (c.1845),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Fur Trader’s Métis Son, and Shaun the Sheep as Le Voyageur ancien; and featuring the Purple Hippo as The Little Captive Bear

Another splendid version of a work that deserves to be better known. A wonderfully evocative landscape with a small boat floating down the mighty river: it is almost invokes Rousseau’s “noble savage” yet retains enough of itself to allow us not being fooled in that way (consider the dead bird). Very well done by the Company all-around, particularly the Set Design and Lighting Depts. Magnifique!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the 1547th anniversary of the Byzantine Emperor Zeno fleeing Constantinople due to an insurrection by his General Basiliscus and as part of their on-going series of iconic movie distribution posters, their interpretation of a theatrical release poster for the James Clavell written, John Sturgess directed version of Paul Brickhill’s story of a mass escape from the German POW camp Stalag Luft III during WW2, entitled “The Great Escape (1963),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Steve McQueen in his role as Captain Virgil ‘The Cooler King’ Hilts; and featuring the Little People as The Barmy Army

Where to begin… We shall be kind and simply laugh along with the Company here! Hooray!

Doofus and the Duck present, in recognition of the 236th anniversary of the origins of the US’s National Religious Freedom Day and as part of their on-going series entitled “Metamorphosis of the Djokovic,” their tableau of a work by late-18th, early-19th Century French Romantic painter Pierre-Paul Prud’hon, entitled “Justice and Divine Vengeance Pursuing Crime (1808),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Noted Miscreant Simply Known as The Djoker; and featuring China Baby as The Personification of Justice

A beautiful tableau that injects much needed humour, and let us note the sweet irony, into Prud’hon rather somber and self-righteous original. The colour palette is divine and the acting consummate and, taken as a whole, it is fantastic in its conception and execution. Amazing!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their series celebrating the works of great illustrators and as the conclusion of their series entitled “Metamorphosis of the Djokovic,” their tableau of a work by noted 19th century French artist and engraver Paul Gustave Louis Christophe Doré, created as one of the 241 plates for a French translation of the Vulgate Bible known as “La Grande Bible de Tours,” entitled “Genesis 3:24 Adam and Eve Driven Out of Eden (1866)” featuring the Purple Hippo and the Little Sheep as The First Couple

While not in keeping Doré’s strict Victorian vision of a bible full of “the God of Wrath: of massacres and murders, decapitations and avenging angels” it does bring us a beautiful Eden; a stern yet somehow not unkind divine justice; and pair of youthful innocents, clueless as to the fate that has befallen them. Not at all the intention of the original yet remarkably appropriate for our age. Gorgeous!

Doofus and the Duck present in honor of the Official Birthday of Princess Ingrid Alexandra of the House of Glücksburg, Norway, their tableau of a work by 19th Century English Pre-Raphaelite painter John Maler Collier, entitled “Sleeping Beauty (1921),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as La Belle au bois dormant and Shaun the Sheep as Dornröschen

A lovely colourful rendition of a typical trite Pre-Raphaelite “fairy tale.” Excellent work by the Company here.

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of both their solo series and their famous photographic images series and in honour of the (contested) Australian National Day of Celebration, their tableau of Australian photographer Max Dupain’s iconic and “arguably the most widely recognised of all Australian photographs,” entitled “Sunbaker (1937).”

Excellent work from the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot, if one considers lying around on a beach “work!”

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of World Astronomical Appreciation Day and as part of their on-going series of major art works, their tableau of one of the most well-known landscapes created by Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Willem van Gogh, an early morning view from his hospital room in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, entitled “The Starry Night (1889),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as La Luna

Another work many considered beyond the capabilities of “these poor players” executed with precision and wit. Bravo!

February 2022

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the turning of the Lunar New Year and bringing in the Year of the Tiger, their tableau of a page from a 13th Century French manuscript, located in the monastery at Cambrai, where a colourfully-spotted tiger thinks she sees her stolen cub in the mirror, and stops to examine it, and as the knight rides away with the stolen cub he readies another mirror in case the tiger resumes the pursuit, entitled “‘The Tiger’ Folio 2r, MS 711, known as ‘De Natura animalium’,” starring The ABC Interpretive Bandicoot as A Distraught Tiger Mother Distracted by Her Reflection; and Shaun the Sheep as The Brave and Resourceful Knight; and featuring Boxer the Stuffed Clydesdale as The Mighty Warhorse, and The Little Tiger as The Little Tiger

The range and versatility of the Company never ceases to amaze, moving effortlessly from post-modern abstract expressionism to post-impressionist landscapes to medieval manuscripts without missing a beat. Magnificent!

Doofus and the Duck present, in recognition of the passing of a popular North American Winter Tradition, and as part of their on-going series of classic movie posters, their tableau of a theatrical release poster for the Danny Rubin/Harold Ramis movie, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, entitled “Groundhog Day (1993),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as the Amazingly Funny Reporter Phil Connors; and featuring the Little Sheep as Punxsutawney Phil from Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania

Another wonderful effort from the Company, especially the Production Department. Kudos also to the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot for its impression of Bill Murray, and a special mention to the Little Sheep as Scooter. Very fine indeed!

Doofus and the Duck present, in celebration of the Commencement of the XXIV Olympic Winter Games, and as part of the on-going series of both solo works and iconic photographic images, their tableau of a portrait by 20th Century French Humanist photographer Robert Doisneau of his friend the actor, mountaineer, and cellist Maurice Baquet, entitled “Cellist and Actor in Chamonix (1957).”

Another superlative effort from Doofus in creating this wonderful, and humorous, mid-century photo from the French master. Superb!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of posters related to the Winter Olympic Games and in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Steve Jobs returning to Apple Inc. after their acquisition of the NeXT company, their tableau of a an artwork by American Pop Artist Andy Warhol created for the Winter Olympics at Sarajevo, entitled “Speed Skater 303 (1984),” starring Red Doofus as Speed Skater 303

A fine interpretation of a rather unusual Warhol work. Wonderful work from Doofus’s cousin, Red Doofus, and we look forward see more work from this talented actor! Very good!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of International Ice Dancing Appreciation Day and as part of their on-going series of Iconic Sporting Memories, their tableau taken from the gold medal winning, and highest-scoring single program of all time, ice dancing performance which occurred at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics, entitled “Torvill and Dean Dance Bolero (1984),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Amazing Jayne Torvill OBE and Shaun the Sheep as the Outstanding Christopher Colin Dean OBE; and featuring the Purple Hippo and the Little Sheep as The Bolero Boys

Flabbergasted!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of Iconic Sporting Memories and in celebration of the 402nd anniversary of the first recorded mention of “the roaring game,” their tableau of an illustration by Charles Altamont Doyle, possibly for the journal “The Illustrated Times,” entitled “A Wee Curling Problem (c.1860),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Angus McTavish, a Concerned Sporting Fellow, and Shaun the Sheep as the Champion Curler Willie McGrogan; and featuring the Purple Hippo as a Curler in a Pond, and the Little Sheep as A Man with a Broom

An exceedingly fine production, with excellent acting, however one can’t but help think that the Company’s talents are wasted on such a trivial sketch.

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the birthday of one of the Company’s long-time patrons and supporter and as part of their on-going series of solo works, their tableau of a painting by Bohemian Art Nouveau artist Alfons Maria Mucha, entitled “La Normande or Heather from Coastal Cliffs (1902),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Miss Heather from Normandy

Simple and elegant as an art nouveau masterpiece should be. Brilliant!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the on-going celebration of winter sportiness happening currently near the town of Beijing and in commemoration of the 458th anniversary of the birth of the celebrated Pisan natural philosopher Galileo Galilei, their tableau of an Art Nouveau railway advertising poster created by the Portuguese-French artist and illustrator Francisco Tamango, entitled “Chamonix - Mont Blanc (1901),” introducing Red Doofus as The Dude

Simple, elegant, exquisite! Hooray!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the celebration of winter sportiness happening currently near the town of Beijing and as part of their on-going series of iconic movie posters, their interpretation of a theatrical release poster for the Jon Turtletaub direction sports comedy loosely based on the inaugural entry of a Jamaican team in the Men’s bobsled competition during the 1988 Winter Olympics, entitled “Cool Runnings (1993),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as the Mighty Sprinter Derice Bannock and Shaun the Sheep as Equally Fast Sanka Coffie; and featuring the Purple Hippo as Junior Bevel, and China Baby as Yul Brenner, with the Little Sheep as An Excited Fan!

Once more I find words failing me…

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the celebration of end of winter sportiness happening currently near the town of Beijing and as part of their on-going series of iconic sporting moments, their tableau of the end of the 1000m Short-track Speed Skating Final in Salt Lake City where the Australian competitor became the first sportsperson from the Southern Hemisphere to win a Winter Olympics Gold Medal, entitled “Stephen Bradbury – Last Man Standing (2002),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Apollo “Fastest Man on Ice!” Ohno (USA), and Shaun the Sheep as Lia “Slightly Over-aggressive” Jiajun (CNH); and featuring the Purple Hippo as Ahn “Skatey MacSkateface” Hyun-soo (KOR) and Shady Jake’s Pig as Mathieu “A Really Nice Guy from Sherbrooke” Turcotte (CAN)

I can but wonder when we’ll be returning to the art…