Pluck at Edison Nov. 19 and 20

What happens when great classical music falls into the hands of complete, if talented, idiots?

Find out when Pluck, the world’s funniest string trio, descends upon Washington University’s Edison Theatre with Musical Arson, a slapstick spoof of concert hall decorum.

Sponsored by the Edison Ovations Series, the one-night-only performance begins at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19. Tickets are $35; $30 seniors; $25 for Washington University faculty and staff; and $20 for students and children.

In addition, Pluck will present a special all-ages matinee at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, as part of the ovations for young people series. Tickets are $12.

Tickets are available at the Edison Box Office and through all MetroTix outlets. Edison Theatre is located in the Mallinckrodt Center, 6445 Forsyth Blvd. For more information, call (314) 935-6543 or e-mail edison@wustl.edu.

Pluck. Download hi-res image.

Musical Arson

Musical Arson is, first and foremost, a concert. Three classically trained musicians — cellist Flora Allison, violinst Kit Massey and violist Jon Regan — take the stage and, with impeccable musicianship, perform favorite works ranging from Bach to the Beatles.

Yet the musicianship is the only thing impeccable about this bickering trio, whose self-absorbed antics rival those of any diva. Combining gleeful absurdist humor with outrageous physical comedy, they compete, argue, scheme, ridicule, dance, fight and seduce their way through Brahms, Ravel, Vivaldi and more.

The Washington Post describes Pluck as “clown school invades the symphony,” while the Washington Times adds that, “If the Marx Brothers had gone to Juilliard, this might have been the type of show they would have put on.”

Pluck

Pluck was formed in 2002 when Regan and freelance cellist Sian Kadifachi joined Adrian Garratt, a violinist who had spent years staging innovative street performances, for a show at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Bar in London.

The reception was positive and the following year Pluck took its act to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, selling out two weeks of performances and winning the prestigious Tap Water Award for Cabaret.

Working with directors John Fealey and Toby Sedgwick, the group developed Musical Arson and toured throughout Europe before returning to the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe, this time winning the Spirit of the Fringe Award.

Subsequent shows have included The Specialists, which adds angels, fireworks and cannons to an already unstable mix; and The Titanic Show, a tribute to those doomed musicians who famously played to the bitter end. Both evenings were developed with director Cal McCrystal, who previously worked with celebrated troupes Cirque du Soleil, Spymonkey and The Mighty Boosh.

Subsequent tours have taken Pluck to Australia, Malaysia, Finland, the United States, South Korea, Singapore and throughout the United Kingdom.

Today Pluck consists of Regan and Massey, who replaced Garratt in 2009, with Kadifachi — recently returned from a year’s maternity leave — splitting cello duties with Allison.

Edison Theatre

Founded in 1973, the Edison Ovations Series serves both Washington University and the St. Louis community by providing the highest caliber national and international artists in music, dance and theater, performing new works as well as innovative interpretations of classical material not otherwise seen in St. Louis.

Edison Theatre programs are made possible with support from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency; the Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis; and private contributors. The Ovations season is supported by The Mid-America Arts Alliance with generous underwriting by the National Endowment for the Arts and foundations, corporations and individuals throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.