Award
winning Argentinian lighting designer Ariel del Mastro was asked to add his own
touches of lighting inspiration to latest thrilling stage show created by renowned choreographer / producer Flavio Mendoza,
“Mahatma”, which played the summer season at the Luxor Theatre in Villa Carlos
Paz, Cordoba and has now transferred to the Teatro Broadway in Buenos Aires.
The show
is Indian influenced, featuring a unique blend of exuberant and reflective
music and dance capturing the humour, colour, diversity and wisdom of the
culture in a vibrant and animated performance for which Ariel chose Robe moving
lights as his principal fixtures.
Fourteen Spikies,
18 Spiiders and 16 Squares were on the rig at the Luxor – the first time all of
these new fixtures made their theatrical debut in Argentina!
The big challenge
in lighting the show said Ariel was to capture the many emotions and
expressions, for which he needed some truly versatile lighting options.
A large amount
of LED screen upstage also dictated that bright luminaires should be used that
would cut through the high ambient light levels onstage. Added to this, several
moving scenery pieces come in and out throughout, so lighting on the performers
additionally needs to be fine-tuned to avoid shadows or other surprises or
obstructions!
Flavio Mendoza
himself was also keen to use the latest technologies on his show.
When
Ariel first saw the Spiiders a month after their launch at LDI 2016, they were
a must-have for the lighting plot, together with Spikies and Squares which he also
saw for the first time at that same trade show.
He came
back from Las Vegas enthusing to Flavio, and when CDM Productions from Buenos
Aires was appointed as Mahatma’s technical supplier they made the investment in
the new Spiiders, Spikies and Squares, which were supplied by Robe’s
Argentinian distributor, TSD.
Seeing
them at LDI was one thing, but when Ariel actually got them in front of him at
the warehouse for the first time, he realised how much more creative he could
be overall. He likes the “clear and precise colours and the large zoom” which
allow him to create different spaces onstage and help develop the mood of each
different segment.
The Spiider’s are all in the
overhead rig. They offer multiple options both as a standard wash beam and for
effects, helping to create the different environments and deepen the texture of
the stage as a performance space.
Ariel originally intended to use
Squares primarily at the back, so they could be programmed or mapped into
patterns and shapes, but the power, the zoom function and the quality of the
colour range led him to move some to the side boom positions. With up to 40
artists on the stage at times, this has been a real boost to the cross-stage coverage
capabilities.
The
Spikies were mounted at the back in between the screens with the
intention of having a narrow beam emanating from the edges of the screen,
giving a three dimensional element and some aerial movement coming in from
behind cutting through the light coming off the screen.
Ariel first saw Robe a decade ago at
LDI in 2007. He remembers the occasion clearly and commented to those around him
at the time that Robe was a brand-to-watch!
“Now it’s time to give me a high
five!!!” he declares.
A lot has happened in those 10
years, but he now maintains, without hesitation, that Robe is “The main player right
now”. Observing also that there are many others chasing that top position, he
adds, “I really hope Robe can keep the innovative edge and the leadership it commands
right now”.
Ariel del Mastro was born into the entertainment
industry and his passion for lighting was energised when he was a teenager on
tour with his mother, famous Argentinian singer, songwriter, dancer and
actress, Nacha Guevara.
One evening, the follow spot
operator failed to show up so young Ariel stepped up to the plate and hasn’t
looked back.
His long and lively career has seen
him establish himself as one of the most experienced theatrical, performance and
dance lighting designers in Argentina. He’s also owned and run a successful
rental company, set up when none of the existing ones could supply the kit he
wanted. Through this, he serviced a host of international companies and artists
performing in Argentina.
In 2001 he sold the rental company
and focussed on being an LD and designer. Work has included several high
profile Disney productions like Beauty and the Beast for which he designed
lighting throughout Latin America and Europe, winning many international awards
and distinctions.
In the last year he’s been involved
in the design, set up, technical direction and / or artistic direction of plays
like Stravaganza (also for Flavio Mendoza), Peter Pan, the musical Franciscus,
Cinderella and many more
http://www.robe.cz
Mahatma photo caption
From left to right
Ariel
“Gato” Ponce (main programmer), Daniel Lema (MD of TSD, Robe’s Argentinian
Distributor), LD Ariel Del Mastro and Leandro Freitas (lighting co-programmer
and operator)
