Laguna Beach’s Annual Pageant of the Masters Takes You On a Trip Through Time and Place in “The Time Machine”
The Pageant of the Masters and Festival of the Arts Entrance on Laguna Canyon Rd.
It’s a starlit summer night in beautiful Laguna Beach as I join 2600 guests seated in the outdoor amphitheater on opening night at the 86th annual Pageant of the Masters. The lights dim, the live orchestra begins to play and the baritone-voiced narrator introduces The Time Machine. As the stage curtain rises we join a steampunk-styled young man of the late 1800s, his female companion and her little dachshund, as they board a Time Machine with which the man has been tinkering, ala H.G Wells. Together, we begin a journey to navigate the past, present and future around the globe, as depicted through life-size works of art. But wait, did Napoleon surreptitiously scratch his nose in Jean-Léon Gérôme’s 1860 painting Napoleon and his General Staff? Did the 1933 bronze sculpture by Malvina Hoffman of the Hawaiian Surf-Rider seem to move a little on his wave?
Waiting for the Curtain to Rise at the Pageant of the Masters
Call it tableaux vivant, living pictures, or just plain magic, the Pageant of the Masters brings art to life as actors are transformed into re-creations of well-known paintings, sculptures, and figurines. The original art pieces are painstakingly copied on intricate sets with well-hidden stands, footholds, and handles supporting the cast members, who, after meticulous make-up and costume sessions, are placed in the artwork. Then, as the curtain rises, each actor holds a pose, motionless, unbreathing, for at least 90 seconds. With a patented lighting system that reduces the three dimensional down to the appearance of two dimensions, the effect is spellbinding, and has made the Pageant of the Masters a favorite component of the venerable Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts.
F. A. Bridgeman’s 1896 oil “Cleopatra on the Terraces of Philae” as interpreted at the Pageant—yes the women in the painting are real!
A backstage view of setting up Norman Rockwell’s “Fixing Up the Jalopy”
In a departure from previous years, this summer’s production actually includes some deliberate movement. For instance, the time travelers ride in their machine from one side of the audience to the other and participate in some of the tableaux. In Act II, Lindy dancers in a 1950s Norman Rockwell painting come alive and persuade the time traveling couple to join them in a dance, rocking out to an authentic 1959 jukebox. Best of all for this dog lover, the very real dachshund named Leonardo (the first canine cast member!) happily wags his tail as he rides in the machine’s front basket. Audience members might even notice a flying saucer rising over the amphitheater!
The Pageant of the Masters runs nightly at 8:30 pm from July 7- August 31 on the grounds of the Festival of the Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Rd. in Laguna Beach. Tickets start at $15.
Artist Paul Bond shows some of his magical realism art at the Festival of the Arts
credit: Baldemar Fierro
Included in the ticket price is unlimited entry throughout the summer to the Festival of the Arts show. This prestigious juried art show includes a wide variety of media such as paintings, photography, printmaking, sculpture, jewelry, handcrafted wood and furniture, ceramics, glass and more, by 140 of Orange County’s finest artists. Be sure to plan on spending at least an hour browsing the fascinating art works before the Pageant. Or, spend the whole afternoon—a full schedule of workshops, art
A jazz concert in the picnic area at the Festival of the Arts/Pageant of the Masters
classes for all ages, and talks are included in the Festival of the Arts. Click here for all the info. Daily live music starts at 5:30 pm in the festival picnic area (feel free to bring your favorite munchies, wine, or other beverages, or order from the snack bar). There is also a full service restaurant, Terra Laguna Beach, serving a $30 prix fixe menu focusing on farm-influenced California cuisine. For all the dining options, click here. Special events held on the festival grounds throughout the season run the gamut from fashion shows, to yoga, to an evening of Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate. There are even story times for the kiddos.
If this is your first time viewing the Pageant of the Masters, you will love it. If this is your thirtieth time, you will also love it. Even though I have attended almost every one of the last 12 years, The Time Machine felt new and fresh to me with a more interactive and energetic focus than in some previous years. And yes, as in every production since 1936 (with the exception of three years) the show’s finale is a stunning depiction of Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper.
A Depiction of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Masterpiece, “The Last Supper”
Useful tips:
- Bring binoculars (or rent them at the festival). It is always fun to try and catch the actors on the stage moving involuntarily, but binoculars also help in appreciating the intricate details of the costumes, makeup, and sets from your seat many rows back in the audience.
- Bring a jacket and/or blanket. No matter how warm and summery the day was, evenings in Laguna Canyon can be chilly, damp, and often breezy.
- Parking and traffic in Laguna Beach in the summer can be a less than pleasant experience. Avoid it by making use of the free trolleys that will take you right to the Festival grounds, and all around the town.
- There are two other art festivals worth visiting close by on Laguna Canyon Rd. For over 50 years, Laguna Art-A-Fair has featured over 100 fine artists and artisans from around the world exhibiting a full spectrum of original creations and affordable reproductions. Visitors can enjoy art workshops and demonstrations, live music concerts and delicious cuisine. Sawdust Art & Craft Festival s a non-juried art show promoting the work of local Laguna Beach residents. Sawdust also sponsors a wide variety of both year-round and festival art classes and camps.
- Click here for other tips.