Introduction

The continuing art adventures of Doofus and the Duck and their Company of players, as created by my wonderful wife Emma during the time of quarantine: the COVID-19 pandemic of 2019/2020. This is the sixth installment of works, the Company remaining at the height of their creative endeavors.

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

August 2020 Cont.

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of modern art interpretations, their tableau of Dutch master Piet Mondrian’s New Plastic Painting entitled “Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow,” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Big Red Square Top Man, and featuring the Purple Hippo as White Square Dude

It is always a delight to see the Company’s interpretation of Modern Art, particularly their take on Abstract Expressionism. Once more humour comes firmly to the center of their work, playfully subverting the artist’s original intent–showing the underlying structure of reality–to reveal what reality actually is like: A chaotic group project that requires everyone pitching in to their best ability to make some semblance of sense of what is going on. A true delight and one of their very finest efforts!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the Significant Birthday of a Company Sponsor, their tableau of British photographer Herbert Ponting’s iconic silver gelatin print from the 1911-1913 British Antarctic Expedition entitled, “PA1-f-067-12-04 (5 Jan 1911) (also known as “Grotto in an iceberg”),” featuring the Little Blue Men as Cold Explorers

With a delightfully atmospheric recreation of an extraordinary photograph, the Company has, once more, shown their versatility moving effortlessly from Abstract Expressionism to Photographic Realism with verve and delight. Again, the Little Blue Men show how effective they can be when used in serious, rather than comic, roles. Excellent work!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of famous illustrators, their tableau inspired by the work of famed American artist, Theodore Geisel (aka Dr Seuss), taken from his book, “The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins (1938),” featuring the Purple Hippo as Bartholomew Cubbins and his 500th Hat

Another epic slice of whimsy from the Company in this beautifully conceived and executed tableau. The Principals remain aloof and focused, while the Purple Hippo is magnificent as the gormless title character. As is fitting the 500th hat takes center stage, and it is delightfully ornate, a fitting tribute to the efforts of the costuming department. A joy to behold, this work continues the very fine tradition the Company has with performing children’s literature.

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of modern art, their tableau of Belgian surrealist René Magritte’s epic magical work, “Golconda,” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Magritte’s Friend, poet, anarchist, and civil servant Louis Scutenaire, and featuring the Purple Hippo as A Man In A Hat

It is always such a joy when the Company turns their attention to the works of the Surrealists and the like, and this take on Magritte’s humorous epigram on suburban life twists the fun and multiplies it almost to the point of mockery, yet, as ever, the Company manages to avoid such crassness. Their collective ability to take Surrealism to its Dada extreme always entertains and never disappoints. Bravo!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of book illustrations, their interpretation of a page from the Luttrell Psalter, created by a collection of unknown English artists for Sir Geoffrey Luttrell (circa 1330), entitled “BL Add MS 42130 folio 197r,” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as A Fantastic Beast Found at the Bottom of the Page, and featuring the Purple Hippo as a Villain In a Belled Hat, and introducing the Little Blue Men as Capital Letters

A stunning interpretation of little known Gothic manuscript masterpiece shows the Company at their collective best: the Principals are self-effacing and restrained, the featured artists are magnificent, and the overall artistic direction and creative work is unparalleled. This work is, arguably, superior to their earlier work on the similar “Book of Hours of John Duc de Berry” showing, I believe the continuing ramp of improvement the Company had embarked upon. We eagerly look forward to their next adventure in art!

Doofus and the Duck present, the next in their occasional series of famous photographic images, the iconic Surrealist image by ex-pat American Man Ray, entitled “Le violon d’Ingres (1924),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Artistic Muse Kiki de Monteparnasse (aka Alice Ernestine Prin)

Another exquisite interpretation of a early-20th Century classic image. The ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot plays the coquettish Kiki with demur grace and intrigue, beautifully capturing the mystique of the original photograph, with the dramatic use of colour enhancing the exotic symbolism in a way, I believe, the artist would have approved. Another very fine work!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their solo series, this tableau of Norman Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post cover from the issue, 16 August 1947, entitled “High Dive (1947),” starring the Purple Hippo as Peter Rockwell, a Scared Nipper

Another Rockwell makes an interesting diversion from some of the more serious art of recent days, and the Purple Hippo plays the role of the petrified small boy to perfection, his wide starring eyes amply expressing the terror most of us felt when it was our turn to jump off the high board. A lovely work from the Company art department as well, creating a realistic rickety diving platform none of us would be happy to climb. A fine work indeed.

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of solo works, English early-Romantic polymath William Blake’s painting entitled, “Newton (1795-1805),” starring Doofus as the Scientific Materialist Sir Isaac Newton

The best of Blake’s work can be described as enigmatic, and Doofus has beautifully recreated the inherent difficulty in the painter’s depiction of one of the world’s great scientific thinkers. In essence, Blake despised Newton’s world view, thinking him limited to the materialist plane, hence painting the scientist stuck to a rock. Doofus’s pained portrayal beautifully reflects this mood, and highlight how fine a player it is! Bravo!

Doofus and the Duck present, as the next in their series of solo works, a self-portrait by Dutch, Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh, entitled “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889),” starring the Duck as Vincent, post-seizure

A beautiful and touching portrait of a troubled artist, the Duck shows its emotional virtuosity in this charming tableau, capturing the tortured artist’s state of mind to perfection. Well done!

Doofus and the Duck present, as the next in their occasional series of famous photographic images, their interpretation of Scottish photographer Iain Macmillan’s iconic portrait of The Beatles, which became the title of their chart-topping album, “Abbey Road (1969),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Paul “The Man” McCartney, and featuring the Purple Hippo as Almost the Best Drummer in the Group

Really? Nope, got nothing… It is what it is…

Doofus and the Duck present their interpretation of French post-Impressionist Paul Gauguin’s oil painting entitled, “Mahana no atua (Day of the God) (1894),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Hina, Peerless Maiden Deity of Creativity, and featuring the Purple Hippo as a Maiden with a Pot on Her Head

Another exquisite tableau from the Company, lush in colour and composition, as befitting a Tahitian work from the French master, Gauguin. Excellent work from the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot (no surprises there) and lavish design work from the Creative Team has bestowed a near-Fauvist quality to the drama, well in keeping with the artist’s original conception. Bravo!

September 2020

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the delayed start to the 2020 edition of the “World’s Greatest Sporting Event,” their tableau of an advertising poster for an earlier version of “Le Tour de France (1925),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as the Legendary Cyclist, Bernard “le bandicoot” Pinot, and featuring the Purple Hippo as Didi the Devil, and The Little Blue Men as Dutch Fans

Superb! Definitely a Maillot jaune for this wonderful effort! Perfect in every aspect. Bravo!

Doofus and the Duck present their tableau of the Italian Renaissance Master Paolo Veronese’s dramatic classical scene “Perseus and Andromeda (1576-1578),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as the Mighty Hero Perseus, and featuring the Purple Hippo as the Ravenous Sea-monster Cetus

Another magnificent dramatic work based on a Italian masterpiece. All three leads show the full range of their skills, and the art department have excelled themselves in their recreation of a dramatic seascape. It is also very fine to see one of the lesser lights of the Company make an unheralded, though much welcome, appearance: Do take a bow Trevor the Trilobite!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of solo works, this on-location tableau of Danis sculptor Edvard Eriksen’s famous statue entitled, “Den lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid) (1913),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as A Transformitive Mermaid

A lovely, if minor, work, much like the original.

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their series of great illustrators, their stylized tableau from the pen of American cartoonist and children’s book illustrator David Johnson Leisk (known as Crockett Johnson), depicting a two-page spread from his most popular work, “Harold and the Purple Crayon (1955),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as A Terribly Frightening Dragon, and featuring the Purple Hippo as Harold

A marvelous, special-effects laden version of a childhood classic. Majestic in its simplicity. Glorious.

Doofus and the Duck present another in their series of solo works, this time a tableau of the great Mexican artist Diego Rivera’s painting entitled, “Cargador de Flores (The Flower Carrier) (1935),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as A Struggling Mexican Peasant

Another wonderful work, full of life, colour, and pathos, as befits the original. A masterful performance from the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot, who continues to thrive, and surprise us, with every new outing; and a rare upfront effort from China Baby shows some of the depth it can bring when given a chance. Excellent work!

Doofus and the Duck present, in recognition of the recent US Labor Day Holiday, their interpretation of the renowned 19th C Russian artist Ilya Yefimovich Repin’s major work, “Barge Haulers on the Volga (1873),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Maxim Fyodor Malinovitch, a down-at-his-heels Russian aristocrat, and featuring the Purple Hippo as a Vulgar Boatman

A wonderful depiction by the Company of one of 19th C Russia’s greatest works. You can almost feel the sweat and toil as the actor press their backs into hauling the loaded barge against the current of the mighty river. An epic interpretation!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of the on-going acclaimed series of children’s book illustrations, this work from the pen of English artist Quentin Blake, for a later edition of Roald Dahl’s epic book, “Fantastic Mr Fox (1996),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Fantastic Mr Fox, and featuring the Purple Hippo as Fox Son Number One

A magnificent, beautiful, jumble of a work, overflowing with vibrancy, colour, and features. Excellent!

Doofus and the Duck present their tableau of the Prado version of Italian Renaissance master Tiziano Vecelli’s (Titian) famous mythological portrait entitled, “Danaë and the Shower of Gold (c. 1565),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as A Nursemaid Who Hit the Jackpot, and featuring the Purple Hippo as the Embodiment of a Dog

Another wonderful ensemble piece from the Company with Doofus effortlessly playing the Goddess, the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot playing a very believable nursemaid (though perhaps a touch too pretty!), and the Purple Hippo bringing its usual humour to the role of a small dog. All in a superb, lush setting. Titian could not but help love this version of his many-editioned work.

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of famous children’s book illustrators, their tableau of English artist Ernest Howard Shepard’s work for A. A. Milne’s “The House at Pooh Corner” entitled, “Pooh Sticks (1928),” guest starring Yellow Bear Johnston as Pooh Bear, and featuring the Purple Hippo as Piglet

Beautiful and touching in equal measure. One can do no better than quote the final words of the book: “Wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.”

Doofus and the Duck present, in recognition of the Book’s failure to be nominated to the short-list of year’s Booker Prize, their tableau of English artist and sculpture Edwin Henry Landseer’s well-known portrait of grief and loss entitled, “The Old Shepherd’s Chief Mourner (1837),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Faithful Dog

A simply astounding work from the Company which manages, at one and the same time, to be effectively touching and bitingly satirical. The imagery is exquisite, the acting perfect, the setting sublime: a true masterwork!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of modern art masterpieces, their tableau of American pop-art artist Roy Lichtenstein’s famous painting, “Drowning Girl / Secret Hearts / I Don’t Care! I’d Rather Sink (1963),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as A Girl in Need of Some Help (but not from Doofus)!

Simple, clean, delightful. A parody of a parody of a parody: post-modern existential goodness wrapped in blue, with pearls…

Doofus and the Duck present their tableau of the famous oil-on-panel painting, by the Netherlandish painter simply known as “The Master of the Female Half-Lengths,” entitled “Three Ladies Making Music (betw. 1530 and 1550),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Madeline Richards de Mont Sanguine, Legendary Lutenist

A lovely work from the Company of a very well-known piece, though the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot is, perhaps for the first time, over-playing its part somewhat…