We just returned from the Avignon Festival, an international festival of cutting edge theatre and performance art. An adjust to the festival is Avignon Le Off (http://bit.ly/iIju9). Le Off is “fringe” festival at which hundreds of theatre companies and performance artists are given a showcase to present their works every day for 3 1/2 weeks in July.
What really stood out for us is how the Off performers shamelessly pitch their works. Throughout this beautiful medieval walled city, performers in and out of costume promenade, handing out leaflets that tout their works and asking and cajoling every man and woman on the street to attend. As lovers of the arts, we were struck by the exuberance and excitement created by this atmosphere. And we wondered why American performers don’t do the same.