The playbill of the performance,
part of the Crossing Boundaries Series at Dixon Place
On October 25, I had the honor of watching Corporeal Arts Inc. perform Revelations, a work in progress based on my novelette Love Lies Bleeding: The Lady of the Forest.
It was every writer's dream - Selma took inspiration from my story and how the characters made her feel to create something unique and magical.
Dixon Place is a 30 year old off-off Broadway theater known as "one of NYC's most important and fiercely experimental artists' nests." The minute I walked in I was struck by the welcoming, open atmosphere: wood-paneled walls covered in photos and art, a bar (the city's only non-profit one, I believe!) and an intimate lounge with a stage. The actual theater was a flight below and could seat around 50 people. This was a place I wanted to be, a true artist's nest, safe and encouraging.
One of the frames on the wall held an old program from 1992, with a Thursday literature series. The last performance of the night showed a science fiction series of readings, curated by...Gordon Van Gelder! Those of you who subscribe to The Magazine of Science Fiction and Fantasy will understand why I almost fell to the floor - he was the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of the magazine (the top in the genre, publishing such authors as Asimov and Bradbury back in the day) for many years and is still the Publisher. To think my work was being adapted in the same place that Gordon Van Gelder once curated readings...I was over the moon!
The performance focused on the transformative effect of story. Selma made the reader (herself) a character and had the two main characters (Aislin and the Forest Lord) interact with the reader. The movements evoked both the character's personalities as well as the reader's reactions to them: the unfolding transformation of Aislin, the menacing yet sensual strength of the Forest Lord, and their competition to capture the emotions of the reader.
There was so much richness and symbolism here that I could probably write a paper to analyze it all! But instead I mingled with the artists and spectators afterwards, a glass of wine in hand, and talked about performance and literature. It was truly a magical experience!
Unfortunately we were unable to take pictures of the performance itself, but - good news - Selma intends to expand Revelations and perform once again at her home-base studio! So hopefully pictures will be forthcoming!
All the world's a stage...the players and I!
