Sun & Moon Ensemble presents Twobird,
a new solo show written and performed by Michael McCamish, directed by Maria Lexa:

Premieres spring, 2008

In the unlikely location of a chicken factory in a small Tennessee town, a young man unfolds his soul journey and finds himself. In Twobird, a solo performance written and performed by Michael McCamish, and directed by
Maria Lexa, Sun & Moon Ensemble presents a unique blend of penetrating social commentary and rich visual poetry, with a sprinkling of humor and irony. Dance, movement, and mask play combine with naturalism. The protagonist’s narrations filmed in the factory are interspersed with live scenes portraying the various characters in his life. Michael McCamish plays all the roles with precision and mastery, accompanied by the multi-talented San Francisco musician and composer, Eugene Jun.

The protagonist, Malcolm Bruce, comes from a town where you either work in the chicken factory or the prison, and where blacks and whites live on their separate sides of the railway tracks. His grandfather and namesake was broken by his experiences as a POW during world War II, so Malcolm’s father decides to do his fighting from the pulpit and becomes a charismatic Southern preacher. Malcolm’s mother dies in childbirth, and he is raised by a God-fearing black “mammy” from the other side of the tracks. Malcolm reaches an age where he begins testing his father’s will and his upbringing. At this time, he comes under the influence of Vidar, a traveling musician with magnetic charm and seductive philosophy. Malcolm’s lust for life is awakened, and he falls head over heels for his Mammy’s niece, Mae Bella, a charming night club singer. But when he discovers that his mentor Vidar, has stolen his lover, Malcolm is overcome with passion, and attempts violent revenge on Vidar. He is sentenced to prison, where he confronts the harsh reality of prison culture. There he leads a lonely existence, tortured by recurring dreams of his Uncle Ed, a brutal prison guard. As a reward for good behavior, Malcolm is paroled as a line worker in the chicken factory, “slaughtering 182 birds a minute”. Through a crisis and personal epiphany, Malcolm discovers meaning in a life of hardship, and finds his own strength of spirit.

The concept for the piece was developed collaboratively by Director Maria Lexa and Michael McCamish, who has been a main actor with Sun & Moon Ensemble since 2002, in both outdoor and indoor performances. Michael worked for two years in a chicken factory. He also has 13 years experience as a social worker and a Ph.D in social and cultural anthropology. He studied theatre with Eugenio Barba, director of Odin Teatret in Denmark, and has done arts-related work with prisoners in several European countries as well as at San Quentin here in California. Michael’s social commitment comes through with force in the piece he has authored, and he conjures images of his native Tennessee with deep intensity. Sun & Moon Ensemble’s Artistic Director Maria Lexa worked for 20 years at the forefront of the European arts scene as actress, master teacher, theatre group leader, and international festival organizer, and headed her own non-profit company, Foreningen Freja in Århus, Denmark. In 2001 she founded the Sun and Moon Ensemble in San Francisco, known for its masterful physical theatre and imaginative mask work, giant puppets, live music, and vivid visual expression.

Maria Lexa and Michael McCamish joining forces in Twobird has produced a dynamic and many faceted performance. Hand crafted masks by Danish artist Kirsten Gitz-Johansen and local artist Christina Shonkwiler enhance the magic and mystery the of the production, as do costumes and set pieces by veteran Bay Area designer, Laura Hazlitt. Lighting design is by Allen Willner, recipient of the prestigious Isadora Award. Photos, postcard, and poster design are by veteran Sun & Moon member John Spicer. San Francisco artist Liz Hui has created shadow puppets, and webmaster Domingo Vazquez will design the promotional emails and videos.

The piece will tour theatres, high schools, and colleges in the Bay Area, around the country, and abroad. There will be a special series of presentations followed by discussions for disadvantaged youth, prisoners, and institutions. However, Twobird appeals to all adult audiences, and anyone who has ever questioned their religion, rebelled against their parents, worked an undesirable job, lost a loved one, experienced betrayal, fallen in love, or eaten a roast chicken will find common themes and inspiration in this unusual and moving performance.