Tony Montanaro: Theatre & Inspiration

Although mime Tony Montanaro (1927-2002) may not have been a household name, Tony Montanaro: Theatre & Inspiration captures his creativity and infectious enthusiasm for the form, while also outlining his contributions to the often misunderstood craft of miming. Fortunately, Montanaro left behind a lot of filmed routines, interviews, and reflections on mime, which he describes as "thinking with your body." Nothing in life seemed alien to this artist, whether he was cavorting like a chimp, mimicking a baseball game in which he played all the positions, or creating a poignant sketch on the baptism by fire of a young soldier. Comments from Montanaro, his students, wives, and family members are intercut with footage of Montanaro performing routines in the early days of television, traveling to gigs at far flung college campus venues, and his renovation of an old barn in Maine, where he started the Celebration Mime Theatre to pass on his inspiration to a new generation of artists (who would later work on Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and with Cirque du Soleil). Unpretentious and engaging (even French mime Marcel Marceau pays tribute to Montanaro), this is a portrait of an artist for whom mime was a celebration of the joy of living. DVD extras include fuller examples of some of the routines only briefly illustrated in the documentary. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)