Touched by an aerial (ist): Carla Cantrelle and Mason Bryant. Photo by Jan Meissner
Love is like being on a trapeze, according Carla Cantrelle, because it requires “your full attention and commitment to really work.” This actor, writer and aerialist presents this month at Theater for the New City an unusual love story called Looking Up—a romance with trapeze. United Stages had many questions for this daring young woman on the flying trapeze.
Carla, what possessed you to write a performance piece for actors and trapeze? I lost my mind. Actually—no. What happened was I was in grad school at NYU (Gallatin) and doing research on circus performers for another project. I took a Circus Skills class and one of the many things we did was trapeze. It gave me an idea for a short monologue, exploring the idea that what we do as work creates our worldviews. I was invited to perform the piece in a Works-In-Progress evening at The Knitting Factory. I realized it would be more theatrical (and less “literary”) if I did trapeze while I talked about it. With that new element (and a small role for a guy) I was accepted into the American Living Room Festival at HERE. The success of that version led to a residency at the 78th Street TheaterLab to develop it into a full-length play. By then I had become fascinated by the guy’s role and how the two had met—all those relationship questions. The resulting show was presented at the Assembly Rooms at the Edinburgh Festival. This is the U.S. premiere.
How long would you say you can stay on a trapeze without falling off? It’s not about how long you’re up there, it’s about the kinds of moves you’re doing. I’ve only had a bad fall once (knock wood!) while I was improvising in order to create a new routine. Luckily it was in rehearsal with piles of mats under me. What was really funny was when I was working on the original piece. The first time I tried doing the lines while doing the tricks I fell right off. I had no idea how much I use my hands when I speak!
Things are “Looking Up” for Jack (Bryant Mason) when Wendy (Carla Cantrelle) comes to earth. Photo by Jan Meissner
When you’re on the trapeze do you work with a net? Never. You just can’t with this style of trapeze because you don’t ever have the height to put a net under you.
What is the most unusual thing you’ve ever done on a trapeze? Sing. That’s what I’ve been doing at the ABOVE THE BELT shows at the Zipper Theater. It’s a highly unusual specialty. I also once nearly fell asleep. I was verrrrrrrrrrrrrry tired….
Do you have a trapeze hero(es)? I’m fascinated by the 19th century aerialists. I’m a research/history geek.
Can you spot a fellow trapeze artist from across a crowded room? What’s the aerialist’s vibe? Never. It’s such a range of types these days: former gymnasts, dancers, yogis, actors—not the traditional “circus” people. And what’s fascinating, and probably why I am intrigued by circus and aerial as a metaphor, is that everyone is drawn to it for different reasons. I really saw that when I was teaching Trapeze Bootcamp, which was a conditioning class for adult beginners.
Please finish this sentence. I love the trapeze because… It makes me feel strong but lyrical. I think it’s also because on the ground I’m not very tall…
How is love like a trapeze? Both require your full attention and commitment and being absolutely present to really work.
How is love not like a trapeze? My trapeze doesn’t bring me chicken soup when I’m sick. Then again, I don’t have to ask it to please remember to put the toilet seat down.
If you couldn’t swing on a trapeze, how else would you spend your creative/recreational time? The way I already do, acting and writing. I write novels (under a different name) as my “day job.” Talk about living life without a safety net!
What trapeze question have I forgotten to ask you…and what’s the answer? Does it hurt?
Does the trapeze hurt? YES!
Thanks very much, Carla Cantrelle!
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