What I liked
Acting, Costumes, Music, Lobster Man.
What I didn't like
Could have used more audience members.
My overall impression
This irreverent and sensual play takes you inside the physical body of Sam Shepard and Patti Smith’s grotesque and recklessly poetic relationship. The actors are raw and courageous as they navigate this delirious journey through the hell of a spiraling dream. With graffiti and plastic all over the stage, the featured dancers are a beautiful contrast. Their choreography highlights important guttural threads in the text, when the actor’s emotions might distract us from them. They also serve as protectors who, during a sex scene, dance down stage of the actors, giving them the privacy they can’t give themselves. This short play also packs a punch with explosive drumming, rough raggedy singing and electric guitar strumming from its lead actor. The lead actress is both tender and fierce with a wild precision and tears that stream easily from her eyes like blood from a wound. Then there’s The Lobster Man, who is as fun a surprise as he is a delicate shining heart in the dark dream of this play. Overall, a brilliant collaboration of artists brought together by a seasoned and fearless director. This is definitely a play worth experiencing, especially in celebration of the recently departed Sam Shepard.
