Miming to the Music

The Inner Journey: Mime, Music and Story

The artistry of mime and the beauty of piano come together for an improvisational duet that must be seen and heard to fully comprehend. That's the best way to describe “The Inner Journey: Mime, Music and Story,” a two-man show set for this weekend at the University of Arizona's Eller Dance Theatre.

Longtime mime Rick Wamer and Grammy-nominated composer Enrique Feldman have teamed up for this collaboration, which combines the emotions and fluidity of miming with piano notes that both pace the miming and send it in unique directions.

“Enrique and I have been exploring bringing mime theory to the public,” said Wamer, who has done mime for more than 30 years and was mentored by Marcel Marceau. “The show itself is actually a series of 11 vignettes of mime.”

Each nugget of Wamer's performance will be accompanied by original music by Feldman, who said he has some pre-conceived themes but otherwise will let his partner's movement dictate what he plays. And vice versa, as Wamer said the music will influence his antics.

“I'll do a real combination of styles,” Feldman said. “It's classically based, but will include a lot of rock, pop and Latin. If I had to describe it in one way I'd say World Beat. It's very groove-based. There are things we know are going to happen, but then (Rick) is able to change what he's doing in the moment as we play, and so am I.”

Three of this weekend's four performances will also include a guest mime, Lorie Heald, who will perform four duets with Wamer during the Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon shows. The last of those performances, on Sunday, will also serve as a benefit for local nonprofit Heartsounds Mother and Infant Care.

Tickets are $25 for general admission and $20 for military, seniors, students and teachers.