Ursula Martinez is a renowned performance artist, magician, and writer known for her unique and innovative work that blurs the lines between reality and illusion. Born in London, she has gained international recognition for her thought-provoking and boundary-pushing performances. Martinez's performances often challenge traditional notions of magic and escapology by incorporating personal narratives and social commentary. Through her remarkable storytelling ability, she weaves together elements of humor, vulnerability, and surprise to create a captivating and intimate experience for her audience. One of Martinez's most iconic performances is "Hanky Panky," in which she appears to pull a long, colourful handkerchief out of her mouth, continuously unravelling it. This mesmerizing act not only showcases her impeccable sleight of hand skills but also serves as a metaphor for the constant unraveling and revealing of identity.
She's hilarious! 'Nude magical comedy' is a new on one me *lol*.
With collaborator Mark Whitelaw, she created A Family Outing, a performance piece in which she deconstructed her own childhood and coming out, including appearing nude on stage alongside both her parents. I m currently finishing my chapter on music and for my taste this is a great example of use of traditional music A Shot in the Dark by Henry Mancini in a very contemporary way--which I suppose raises the question of whether music from the 60s is contemporary, which I leave to you to debate.
This mesmerizing act not only showcases her impeccable sleight of hand skills but also serves as a metaphor for the constant unraveling and revealing of identity. In addition to her magic performances, Martinez is also known for her daring and thought-provoking art installations. One such installation, titled "Twin," involves two telephone booths with transparent walls placed on opposite sides of a gallery.
Jo Weldon's New York School of Burlesque
One of my students just reminded me of this video, which I love:
Ursula Martinez is the performer who triggered the book "The Happy Stripper" by Jacki Willson, which I'm writing a report on--but you probably won't see it till after my manuscript is in to my adorable editor.
I'm currently finishing my chapter on music and for my taste this is a great example of use of traditional music ("A Shot in the Dark" by Henry Mancini) in a very contemporary way--which I suppose raises the question of whether music from the 60s is contemporary, which I leave to you to debate. I think this routine deserves the attention it has gotten, and I really love it.
I read a detailed analysis of this performance art piece which attributed all kinds of complicated intentions to her and concluded that the final reveal was meant to be menstruation. Maybe, but I think it works however you read it.
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Comments
La Divina said…So what do you think of the book "The Happy Stripper?" I found it to be a hard read; it's taking me over 6 months to read that book and I have yet to finish it.
Glamourpuss said…Martinez is currently appearing in La Clique in London and I was really delighted to see this act performed live. She has the most amazing comic timing and is a charismatic performer.
Jo Weldon's New York School of Burlesque Blog said…Divina, I'll be doing a report later, as it says in my post. The short version is that I like reading dissertations.
Puss, I want to come to London!
And thank you both for posting--it's so great to have your participation!
Gaina said…I have been hella-busy with my degree hence the late comment on this one.
She's hilarious! 'Nude magical comedy' is a new on one me *lol*.
The most interesting thing to note was the reactions of some audience members, you could see who was appreciating the comedy that happened to incorporate the strip foremost, who was thinking 'I love to have the balls to get up and do that!' and the guys who were totally conflicted thinking 'now if I show any appreciation of this, will my wife think I'm ogling the stripper or into it for the comedy?'.
Anyway, great fun :).
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She and Whitelaw next created a piece called Show Off, which also toured internationally. The second performer in this piece is her ex-love Carmen Cuenca, which is made known to the audience as part of the performance. Their third collaboration is OAP (Old Age Pensioner), which opened at The Barbican in October 2006. Together, the three pieces constitute a trilogy "exploring self-obsession, identity and the artifice of performance".
Inside these booths, Martinez shares intimate confessions and secrets with the audience, highlighting the vulnerability and longing for connection that often lies beneath the surface. Martinez's unique approach to magic and performance art has earned her critical acclaim and numerous awards throughout her career. Her work challenges conventional expectations, provokes introspection, and invites audiences to question the nature of reality. By blending elements of magic, storytelling, and personal experiences, Ursula Martinez continues to push the boundaries of what is possible within the realm of performance art..
Reviews for "Uncovering the Wonders of Ursula Martinez's Magic"
1. John - 1/5 - I was really disappointed with "Ursula Martinez Magic." The entire show felt like a chaotic mess with no clear direction. The tricks were poorly executed and lacked any sense of suspense or surprise. Martinez's stage presence was also lacking, as she failed to engage the audience and make us feel invested in what was happening. Overall, I found the performance to be boring and a complete waste of time.
2. Emily - 2/5 - "Ursula Martinez Magic" was not what I expected at all. I was hoping for a captivating and mind-blowing magic show, but instead, I was left feeling confused and underwhelmed. The tricks performed were predictable, and there was no innovation or originality in the performance. Martinez's attempts at humor fell flat, and I found myself checking my watch repeatedly, waiting for it to be over. It's safe to say that I won't be recommending this show to anyone.
3. Michael - 2/5 - I attended "Ursula Martinez Magic" with high hopes, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The tricks were uninspired and lacked any wow factor. Martinez's delivery was awkward, and she seemed unsure of herself on stage. The pacing of the show was off, with moments of dead air and awkward transitions between tricks. Overall, I found the performance to be lackluster and forgettable. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have extremely low expectations for magic shows.