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 seventh installment of works, the Company remaining at the height of their creative endeavors.

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

September 2020 (cont.)

Doofus and the Duck present, in honor of the UN International Day of Peace, their tableau of Spanish master Pablo Picasso’s epic and powerful anti-war painting, “Guernica (1937),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as A Grieving Woman, and featuring the Purple Hippo as A Wide-eyed Bull

Much like World Peace Day, the Company has made a valiant effort at the impossible. Yet their work is powerful, moving, and appropriate for the times. A stunning embodiment of a Cubist masterpiece.

Doofus and the Duck present their tableau of a late work by Russian-French modern master Marc Chagall, entitled “Jacob’s Ladder (1973),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Golden Angel of The Lord, and featuring the Purple Hippo as a Blue Angel

Once again the Company gift us their spectacular interpretation of a Marc Chagall masterpiece. Stunning in its execution, it brings the artist’s vision to life with vibrancy and humour, without sacrificing the nature of the Bible story at its heart. Superb!

Doofus and the Duck present, in honour of the 20th anniversary of “The Greatest Olympic Games Ever,” their tableau of the Official Mascots (Unofficial Version) which they have entitled, “Sydney 2000 Mascots,” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Fatso the Fat-arsed Wombat, and featuring the Purple Hippo as Dickhead the Echidna

Speechless…

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their series of famous children’s book illustrations, their tableau of a panel from German-born British author and artist Judith Kerr’s most well-known work, “The Tiger Who Came To Tea (1968),” featuring the Purple Hippo as The Kind Girl Called Sophie, and introducing a special guest appearance by Cyril the Leopard as The Tiger

An amusing and colourful interpretation of a touching drawing from Kerr’s pen. As always, the Purple Hippo is at the top of its game playing a child (which it does with charm and effortless grace), and Cyril the Leopard plays a somewhat menacing tiger, more in keeping with its rough-and-ready street cred than the more urbane and sophisticated original. That said, Cyril is a perfect foil to the Purple Hippo’s sweetness.

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of solo works, the Duck as Camille Doncieux (Mrs Monet) in one of French Impressionist painter Claude Monet’s most well-loved works, “La Promenade (1875),” featuring the Purple Hippo as the Tragic Boy Hero Jean Monet

Another beautiful Impressionist work from the Duck, lovely in its subtle pastels, elegant textures, and superior use of light and shadow. And a fine, if a touch overplayed, piece by the Purple Hippo, who is clearly relishing its moment in the sun.

Doofus and the Duck present, their tableau of the painting described as “one of the most original and haunting images in all Australian art,” Russell Drysdale’s “The cricketers (1948),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Great Australian Batter Don Miller, and featuring the Purple Hippo as The Kid (in slips)

A beautiful and worthy rendition of a great Australian painting from the Company. Doofus, as always puts its heart and soul into his performance, capturing the bowler’s action and athleticism with ease and grace, while the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot is the essence of concentration. While they are unable to capture the dry, angular sparseness that identifies the original, it is an excellent effort.

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their series of solo works, their tableau of Spanish Surrealist Salvador Dali’s “hand-painted dream photograph” entitled, “Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening (1944),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as A Fierce and Scary Tiger, and co-starring Shaun the Sheep as A Less-Scary Tiger

Epically odd, and perfectly reflective of the artist’s understanding of Freud’s dream interpretation theory.

Doofus and the Duck present their tableau of Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt’s most famous painting, “The Kiss (Liebespaar) (1908).”

Elegant and understated, this version of “The Kiss” is, if possible, more true to Klimt’s vision of Oriental lushness than the original. The textures and colours, not to mention the very fine work by the Company principals, raises this work to a very high level. Magnificent!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of great book illustrators, their tableau, from the pen of the great British caricaturist and book illustrator George Cruikshank’s panel, of the scene from Charles Dicken’s social novel, “Oliver Twist,” entitled, “Please, Sir, I want some more. (1838),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Dastardly Beadle Mr Bumble, and featuring the Purple Hippo as The Desperate Orphan Oliver Twist

Another wonderful interpretation of a classic book illustration, beautifully realised by the Company. The foreground action is delightfully conceived and played by the principals, the use of minor characters balances them very well, and the backdrop is evocative. Super!

Doofus and the Duck present their tableau of Swiss-British artist Henry Fuseli’s most famous painting, “The Nightmare (1785),” featuring Shaun the Sheep as A Weird Horse-thing

A superb depiction of a very important, though largely forgotten, 18th Century masterpiece (a copy reportedly hung on the wall of Freud’s office, and the work is said to have influenced both Edgar Allen Poe and Mary Shelley). Doofus is, as always, superb, portraying the “sleeping” maiden with willowy grace, and the support characters are perfect. A delightful, if macabre, breath of fresh air.

October 2020

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of abstract art, their tableau of Spanish artist and sculptor Joan Miró’s painting, “Blue II (1961),” featuring the Purple Hippo as A Big Black Blob

Stunning, disturbing, and somewhat more surreal, though no less intense, than Miró’s original. A marvel!

Doofus and the Duck present their tableau of Italian Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli’s most famous and controversial painting, “Primavera (c. 1480),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Incomparable Goddess Flora, co-starring Shaun the Sheep as The Biting Wind Zephyrus, and featuring the Purple Hippo as Blind But Deadly Cupid

A stupendous ensemble piece from the Company which, like the original, is both chaotic and perplexing. It the Company’s intent was to clarify the meaning of Botticelli’s masterpiece, then they have failed. If, and I suspect this is the case, their intent is to baffle and amaze their audience, then they have, like Cupid, definitely hit their mark!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their series of solo works, their on location tableau of French Impressionist master Claude Monet’s painting, entitled “The Cliff Walk at Pourville (1882),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as A Beautiful French Maid With A Parasol, and featuring the Purple Hippo as a Girl in a Hat

A delightful en plein air version of Monet’s original. Clearly not Pourville but worthy of the master’s attention! Lovely!

Doofus and the Duck present their tableau, from the brushes of famed Italian late-Renaissance painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, of the renowned painting entitled “The Calling of St Matthew (1599-1600),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as the Loved Disciple Matthew, and featuring the Purple Hippo as a Young Fellow in a Nice Hat

Another masterpiece of tenebroso from the Company, who seem at their very best when doing the works of Caravaggio. The subtle play of light and dark, at the heart of this work both physically and spiritually, are perfectly captured in this work, and enhanced by the subtle central character marvelously realised by the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot. Another bravura performance!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of great illustrators, their tableau of the French Romantic artist and engraver Gustave Doré’s depiction of Canto 6 from Dante Alighieri’s “L’Enfer (Inferno) – The Third Circle of Hell (1857),” featuring the Purple Hippo as the Great Poet Dante, and introducing the Little Blue Men as Gluttons in Hell, with a Special Guest Appearance by Fluffy the Dog as Cerberus

A moody and dramatic presentation well suited to the artist’s original. Very fine effort, particularly from the Little Blue Men who seem to be in their natural element.

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of solo works, their depiction of English Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood artist John William Waterhouse’s painting entitled “Circe Invidiosa (1892),” with a special guest appearance by trevor the Trilobite as The proto-Sea Monster Scylla

Once more Doofus impresses as the protagonist in this stock JWW work. While trivial, as most PRB works are, Doofus manages to bring a sense of gravity to the role, and Trevor the Trilobite manages to sink its teeth in to a rather blurry role as the monster. Well done!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of great children’s book illustrations, their tableau of the American artist Charles M. Schultz’s beloved character Snoopy, in a scene known as “Curse you, Red Baron! (c. 1965),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The World-Famous World War I Flying Ace (in his beloved Sopwith Camel), and featuring the Purple Hippo as the Dastardly and Tricky Red Baron

Superb! An instant classic!

Doofus and the Duck present their tableau of the extraordinary masterwork created by the 17th Century Dutch master, Johannes Vermeer, entitled “The Art of Painting (Allegorie op de schilderkunst) (1666-68),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as The Fashionable and Talented Artist

Another wonderfully beautiful work by the Company of one of the world’s truly great works of art. Doofus excels as Clio, Trevor the Trilobite is convincing as the Plaster Mask, and the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot is perfectly cast as the artist. The imagery of the original has given way to a wicked irony and a playful most evident in the canvas upon which the artist works. Evocative and sublime!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of solo works, their tableau of French Baroque painter Georges de La Tour’s chiaroscuro masterpiece entitled “The Penitent Magdalene (1625–1650),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as the Beloved Disciple Mary of Magdala

Another superb solo effort from the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot who seems to lap up these Italian Baroque masterpieces. In addition, Trevor the Trilobite has created a masterful depiction of the Apotheosis of Mortality, a notably difficult role. Well done!

Doofus and the Duck present, as the next in their series of solo works, their interpretation of French Naïve artist Henri Rousseau’s well-known work “The Sleeping Gypsy (La Bohémienne endormie) (1897).”

A simple, elegant masterful depiction from Doofus of one of the most iconic of all naif works. And a fine job by the Little Dinosaur as the Curious Lion. Outstanding!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their series of solo works, their tableau of Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick’s iconic stylized portrait, taken from the famous 1960 photograph by Alberto Korda, entitled “Portrait of Che Guevara (1968),” featuring the Purple Hippo as the Eternal Rebel Che Guevara

Trite, Marxist nonsense. In addition, the Company should steer clear of the Purple Hippo’s personal vanity projects. Whilst they may have a certain populist charm, they are only going to encourage the player to head down avenues best left unmolested.

Doofus and the Duck present their tableau of the Italian Renaissance master Federico Barocci’s late classical work, entitled “Aeneas’ Flight from Troy (1598),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as the Mighty Trojan Hero Aeneas, and featuring the Purple Hippo as (the soon to be) Legendary King of Alba Longa Ascanius

In a welcome return to more standard fare–this time deep in the heart of the late Italian Renaissance–the Company once more shows us their dramatic urge, given a splendid depiction of the Fall of Troy. However, despite the wonderful efforts of the main characters, and the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot is excellent as the protagonist, the Purple Hippo appears to be, to use a term from the film industry, phoning it in. Perhaps its brief stint as a revolutionary has gone to its head, but we’ve come to expect better. Regardless of the anchor, the overall effect is grand!

Doofus and the Duck present their tableau of that very well-known early painting from the brushes of noted French modernist painter, Édouard Manet, entitled “Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe (1863),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as the Well-connected and Fabulous model Victorine, and featuring the Purple Hippo as A Girl Bathing

Another excellent ensemble work from the Company, recreating one of the true ground-breaking works in the Western Artistic Canon. While the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot revels as the center of our attention (as it should be), the true wonder of this work is the staging, which is phenomenal and exquisite. Doofus is very strong, as is the China Baby, and it is good to see the Purple Hippo throw itself back into playing a role, rather than attempting to be one (let’s face it, the Purple Hippo is simply not cut from Stanislavski’s cloth). A very fine work indeed!

Doofus and the Duck present their tableau of a painting by the British Pre-Raphaelite painter Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet, entitled “The Beguiling of Merlin (c.1874).”

Nicely played by the Company’s principals–Doofus, the Duck, and the Book–however, their effort are wasted on this piece of Pre-Raphaelite fairy-floss. It is interesting to place this in the context of “Le Déjeuner” which was completed, and exhibited, ten years earlier. Already the PRB style of fairy tale drama was obsolete, if not archaic, yet the style remained, and remains, a crowd-pleaser. So much for the tastes of critics…

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of iconic photographic images, their tableau of the photo first appearing in the New York Herald Tribune’s Sunday photo supplement on October 2, 1932, now attributed to photographer Charles C. Ebberts, entitled “Lunch atop a Skyscraper (1932),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Giuseppe “Quick Rivet” Bartozzi, and featuring the Purple Hippo as A Guy in a Hat Without Any Lunch

Another superior rendition of a famous photo. The setting is perfect and the ensemble work excellent, even if the Purple Hippo doesn’t quite seem to have given up all his Marxist tendencies just yet. Bravo!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of solo works, their tableau of French artist Henri Matisse’s famous Fauve-period painting, entitled “The Dessert: Harmony in Red (1908),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as Annie d’Artagnan, A Woman with a Bowl of Fruit

A super interpretation of a work many describe as Matisse’s finest. The use of colour in this version is the thing to behold, with a vibrancy and life that the artist would have admired, and fully in keeping with the Fauvist aesthetic of heavy saturation. As ever, even when asked to do a minor role, the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot gives the part its all and, in this case, is perfect as the woman in the painting. Marvelous!

Doofus and the Duck present, as part of their on-going series of iconic photographs, their tableau of the first of the series of five images taken by the English cousins Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths, entitled “The Cottingley Fairies (1917),” starring the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot as the artist Frances Griffiths (aged 9) and featuring the Purple Hippo as A Very Nice and Pretty Fairy and the Little Blue Men as Tipsy Fae

A sweet and delightful interpretation of a famous fake, fully of colour and a magical life! Simply marvelous!