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 twenty-first installment of works, the Company remaining at the height of their creative endeavors.

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

June 2022 (cont.)

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of both the 118th anniversary of the birth of British novelist and essayist Eric Arthur Blair (better known as George Orwell) and 492nd anniversary of the Ausburg Confession being presented to the Holy Roman Emperor, their tableau of a panel from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel created by the extraordinary Renaissance Florentine master Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, entitled “The Delphic Sibyl (1508-1512),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Awesome and Wise Delphic Oracle; and featuring the Purple Hippo and the Little Sheep as The Random Background Dudes Reading a Book, and the Little Blue Men as Architectural Support

Simple and sweet! Delightful!

Doofus and the Duck present, in commiseration with all who have come down with the Dreaded Lurgie of the COVID, including most recently some near and dear to The Company, and in commemoration of the 850th anniversary of construction beginning of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Nuova di Monreale in Sicily, their tableau of a mosaic scene taken from the Southern Side as part of the Sequence of Christ’s Miracles, entitled “They brought to Jesus a mute man with a demon. Jesus cured the man with leprosy, who said to him “Lord, if you will it, you can heal me” (Matt.8:1-4)(late 12thC),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Unknown Penitent Full of Leprosy and a Demon

More excellent work from the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot who appears to be making a thing of suffering for the art. In addition, there is a wonderful lightness to this piece that is very evocative of the original mosaic’s brilliance. Touching!

July 2022

Doofus and the Duck present, in commemoration of the 925th anniversary of the Crusaders defeating the Sultanate of Rum army at the Battle of Dorylaeum and as part of their on-going series of iconic movie poster images, their tableau of the cover art for 2CD box set of the complete soundtrack recording of Maurice Jarre’s music for the Dean Lean directed cinematic masterpieces, entitled “Lawrence of Arabia (1962),” featuring the Little Tiger as a Fierce Bedouin Warrior; and introducing Ahmed ibn Akbar the Tiny Golden Camel as The Camel

Lovely to see some fresh new faces make an appearance but this work is simply another outstanding triumph from the Lighting and Costuming departments! Fantastic!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the 155th anniversary of the passing of the British North America Act establishing a single Dominion which is now celebrated as a national holiday known as Canada Day (Fête du Canada) and as part of their occasional series of iconic travel posters, their tableau of a advertising poster by the Greyhound Bus Company (agency and artist unknown), entitled “Canada (c.1950),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Guillaume Godin, Loyal and Stern Sergeant of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Gendarmerie royale du Canada); and featuring the Purple Hippo as A Mighty Moose, the Little Sheep as The Noble Bison, Fluffy the Three Headed Dog as A Family of Bears, and the Little Blue Men as Voyageurs; plus various little Canucks as Themselves

Well, that is something…

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the birthday of one of the Company’s long-time supporters and in commemoration of Pinchgut Opera and how their existence neatly parallels the trials and tribulations of the early days of Opera in Venice, their tableau of the cover illustration to Venetian composer, writer, and theorist Benedetto Marcello’s satirical commentary on the state of serious operas in Venice of his day, entitled “Il teatro alla moda – L’Orso in peata (The Fashionable Theatre – A Bear in a Boat) (1720),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as the Famous Venetian Impresario and skilled Boatman Aldiviva Licante; and featuring the Purple Hippo as The Bear

Exceeding sweet!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the recent efforts of the Mighty Tugboats of Sydney in saving the stranded bulk carrier MV Portland Bay from certain disaster on the iron-bound coast south of Sydney during our recent Wild Weather and as part of their Iconic Images series, their tableau of picture taken of 28-year old Egyptian worker Abdullah Abdel-Gawad’s attempt to free a vessel that had run aground in the Suez Canal, entitled “Initial Attempts to Free the Stranded Container Ship ‘Ever Given’ (25 March 2021),” featuring a Little Blue Man as The Valiant Worker

“Wondrous” is the only word that comes immediately to mind…

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the recent Great Synod of Catholic Bishops in Australia known as the Plenary Council and in commemoration of All Women whose Labours have Gone Unnoticed (if not unappreciated), the tableau of an early genre painting by Spanish 17th century master and court painter Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez depicting two women hard at work in a kitchen, entitled “Christ in the House of Martha and Mary (1618),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Young Woman Making Aioli and Shaun the Sheep as The Knowledgeable Crone; and featuring the Little Penguin as Jesus, Saviour of Mankind, the Purple Hippo as Sister Mary, and the Little Sheep as Sister Martha

Another exquisite interpretation of a 17th century masterpiece with excellent acting from the two principals (though one does somewhat question the Little Sheep’s role in proceedings who looks as if it has wandered in from some far and forgotten field), and sublime work from the Lighting and Prop Depts. Simply fantastic!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of solo works and commemorating NASA’s release of the first, of hopefully many, outstanding operational images from the James Webb Space Telescope, their tableau of a painting by 20th Century Spanish-born Mexican artist María de los Remedios Alicia Rodriga Varo y Uranga, entitled “Cazadora de Astros (The Star Catcher) (1956),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Catcher of Stars

A magical and beautiful interpretation of a work from an artist who deserves much more recognition than she currently receives. The ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot is imperious in the title role while the Art and Lighting Departments have excelled themselves. Gorgeous!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the running of the First Edition of the epic bicycle race La Tour de France Femmes and in commemoration of the successful conclusion of the 109th edition of the Tour de France, and in recognition of International Sunflower Appreciation Day, their tableau of an artwork created by current British illustrator and print-maker Neil Stevens, entitled “Stage 4 of the 2011 Tour de France - Lorient to Mûr de Bretagne (2011),” starring The Company as The Beautiful Field of Tournesol.

Well that is quite beautiful!

Doofus and the Duck present, to commemorate the massacre of over 250 men, women and children of the Lakota Sioux by the United States Government at the infamous Battle of Wounded Knee, generally considered to be the last “engagement” of the Indian Wars and to honour the recent operation undergone by on the the Company’s Founders over the last few days, their tableau of a work by early 20th century US artist and illustrator of The West, William Robinson Leigh’s, moving nighttime scene, entitled “Escape from Wounded Knee (1917),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as A Brave and Unknown Lakota Warrior Attempting to Save His Family, and Shaun the Sheep as the Brave’s Strong and Honourable Wife; and featuring the Purple Hippo and The Little Sheep as the Innocent Adorable Kids

Not a great work however decidedly moving! Well done!

August 2022

Doofus and the Duck present, as part on their Iconic Structures series, as part of their on-going solo works, and in honour of Fantastical Beasts Appreciation Week, their tableau of a work by 20th century Singaporean sculptor Lim Nang Seng for the National Government of Singapore, entitled “The Merlion Fountain (1972),” starring the Purple Hippo as The Fabulous Found Merlion

Another colourful delight!

Doofus and the Duck present, in commemoration of the 402nd anniversay of the English merchant ship, Mayflower, departing Southhampton Harbour with a load of settlers, including many Purtitans destined to inhabit a new “Promised Land” in the British American Colonies, their tableau of a famously stolen early work by the 17th century Dutch master Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn wherein he depicts, as part of his only known seascape, the events of Matthew 8:23-27, entitled “Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee (1633),” starring the Purple Hippo as The Calm and Serene Saviour of the World; and featuring the Little Penguin as The Only Guy Who Acutally Appears to Be Doing Anything Useful!

What a fabulous emsemble piece that shows the Little People of the Company at their finest. The acting is excellent (even the Purple Hippo as Jesus seems inspired), the setwork first-rate, but it is the overall production design that takes this work to the next level. Fantastic!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of Internation Youth Day and all the many and varied contributions the Youth have given us, their tableau of an early work by the late-18th century French Academian Jean-Baptiste Regnault, entitled “L’origine de la peinture (1786),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Inspiration of Painting: a Beautiful Young Corithian Shepherd; and featuring the Small Green Quoll as The Faithful Dog, and the Little Sheep as Itself

Beautifully concieved and executed the Company have shown us, once more, the benefits of examining second-tier and minor art. The Regnault original, an amusing piece painted for the Queen then in her Shepherdess-phase, is rather bland, how our two lead actors manage to heighten the stakes bringing a sense of importance to an otherwise dull scene. Outstanding!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series on Iconic Art of Film and Television, their tableau of an image taken from Derek W. Hayes’s award-winning opening titles (music composed by Academy Award winner Anne Dudley) to Clive Exton’s realization for the Brian Eastman/Granada TV series based on P.G. Woodhouse’s beloved stories of the Jazz Age, entitled “Jeeves & Wooster (1990-1993),” featuring the Purple Hippo as That Amiable Fellow Around Town Bertram Wilberforce Wooster; and the Little Penguin as Wooster’s valet, the Quintessential Gentleman’s Gentleman, Mr Jeeves

Beautiful work from the Doofii! An exquisite rendering of a superb graphic image with lovely cameos from The Purple Hippo and the Little Penguin. Completely oojah-come-spiff!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of World Humanitarian Day, their tableau of the poster created by the American author and illustrator Maurice Bernard Sendak commissioned by Reading is Fundamental Inc. for 1979 International Year of the Child exhibition at the New York State Library, entitled “Reading is Fun! (1979),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as A Very Hungry for Knowledge Wild Thing; and Shaun the Sheep as A Book Eater Wild Thing; and featuring the Purple Hippo as Max, King of the Wild Things

Gorgeous!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of Scandinavian Appreciation Month and as part of the Early Works Reclamation Project, their tableau of the most famous work by Finnish late-19th early-20th century Symbolist artist, Hugo Gerhard Simberg, entitled “The Wounded Angel (1903),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot in the a reprise of its role as the Eponymous Angel

An excellent re-interpretation of this less-well-known Finnish masterpiece with the Company’s Set Department outdoing themselves in the creation of Eläintarha, Helsinki, with Töölönlahti Bay in the background. The two principals are elegiac, with the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot doing fine work as the Angel. Exquisite!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the 233th anniversary of the proclamation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen by France’s National Constituent Assembly and as part of their on-going Early Works Reclamation Project, their tableau of a early masterpiece by noted Dutch 17th century painter Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, commissioned by the Amsterdam Guild of Surgeons, entitled “The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp (1632),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as the Intrepid Learned Scholar and City Anatomist of Amsterdam

Another beautiful rendition of a Dutch group portrait which owes much to its wonderful lighting and excellent acting (though the Little Sheep apparently could use a little help in determining which way his learned tome is meant to be held). Another hit!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of World Cultural Appreciation month, their tableau of a work by the most celebrated painter and decorative artist of the French Rococo, François Boucher, in this case a study for a tapestry based on a Chinese idyll, entitled “Chinese Fishing Scene (c.1750),” featuring the Purple Hippo as a Small Fellow Holding an Sun Shade, and the Small Polar Bear as the Ancient in the Pagoda

What marvelous work by the Set and Scenery Department in creating this really quite beautiful scene. The Doofii are excellent as the protagonist, totally convincing in their roles, and the overall affect is one of sustained peacefulness and beauty. Excellent!