For the Frac-il-de-France, Colin Self presented Hippodrome du Précariat, an ambulatory processional performance around the Frac in Romainville.
On a 20-minute loop, Colin, along with a group of instrumentalists and acrobats performed a circular choreography through and in front of the building, revolving around two deconstructed, interloping fugues.
They’re based on Smokey Robinson & The Miracles’ 1967 hit The Tears of a Clown and Mylène Farmer’s 1991 hit Désenchantée; two uplifting songs about despondence popularized during times of mass protest.
The English-French text performed was a libretto co-authored and translated by French poet and musician Chouf. At times instrumental, at times acapella, Colin imagined the performance to be initially comical, unfolding into something…
