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RATHER THIS / THEN
NAVEL LA
LOS ANGELES 2017
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Co-created and performed by Jermaine Spivey & Spenser Theberge
Text and scenic design by Jermaine Spivey & Spenser Theberge
Music by Bach & Stars of the Lid
'Rather This, Then' originally premiered at DISJECTA in Portland, OR in 2016. It has received support from and been presented by Reed College and most recently at NAVEL LA in November of 2017.
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The performance begins with an installation hour, where the audience can engage with installation, grab a drink at the bar, and socialize. The installation is already in progress when the doors open, with the performers appearing to be preparing for the show with a camera crew following. The audience witnesses dynamic scenarios, but is constantly assured that the show hasn't started yet. This exchange builds in intensity before beginning the piece, sneaking the official beginning past the audience without them knowing.
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The piece continues as a structured improvisation. The performers make their way through landmarks while exploring themes of identity and perception--- of the difficulty of communicating your point of view to another. Miscommunication and conflict ensues, contained in the attempt to get the show right.
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'I will never know how you see red and you will never know how I see it. But this separation of consciousness is recognized only after a failure of communication, and our first movement is to believe in an undivided being between us.' - Anne Carson
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I M A G E S
