Friday, September 3, 2010

Performing acts of anachronistic anarchism

I am presently preparing to play the part of an anarchist who is part of a group of survivors from catastrophe aboard the ship on which he had been the engineer. The production, SS ELISABETH: EXHIBITION OF LIVING HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS by Gerhardus, will take place at Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia on September 7 & 8. The SS Elisabeth was a small steamer hauling passengers and parcels from New England to the Carolinas – in 1870. Its battered crew, and traumatized passengers are on display in the Independence Seaport Museum. Through interaction and dialogue the audience will discover what happened before it sank.

sselisabeth.wordpress.com


1 comment:

Symmimex said...

This production is an interactive theatre piece set in a museum. The audience will wander about to discover characters in various places throughout the museum. There is no actual playscript for the actors to follow; each actor is responsible for improvising all words and actions based on information discovered over the course of research and "rehearsals." Most of the actors do not get to interact with one another; they will be posted in a different designated areas where they each must perform as they will in interaction with whoever comes before them.

No make-up will be used, but I will have a stubble of facial hair with untrimmed fingernails to appear somewhat unkempt. The simple costume consists of a white overall garment. My character will have a old ragged scarf and hat he apparently was able to scavenge from the catastrophe that caused the characters to come to this place. In addition, I will have a water-logged Moleskin journal into which to scribble observations and memories with the stub of a pencil.