'Apples and Shoes is the company name and apples get eaten, shoe laces tied and untied, and a story is told of a loss, a death, and that slow sense of coming to terms with a new reality. Except that its an online relationship. Those shoes can't be the dead friend's shoes.
Phoebe Anne Taylor tells of another Phoebe in Brunswick, with a deceptively simple and engaging manner, with the deft guitar playing of Adrian Sergovic as counterpoint. The two performers, in a corner of the downstairs gallery space at Nexus have an enviable poise.
The show is rhetorical, in that no answers are really required to the questions that are asked but thoughts, sometime deep, can emerge, not with a blinding light but with a slow dawning.'
Ewart Shaw, The Advertiser, February 22.
Copied from the Advertiser website
Monday, February 21, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Opening nights, rain and belly dancing
Two very eventful days at the Fringe! No rain nor foul weather could dampen our spirits as we set off eager to see some fellow Fringers' work in motion and to experience Adelaide first hand. Last night while outside it was wet and muggy, we ventured within the Tuxedo Cat - which, I think, we were all arrested by the potential of this performance venue. There's something incredibly intoxicating about walking into the faded beauty of a building and seeing it simultaneously as something decrepit and alive... and I hadn't even stepped into a show yet.
We had the privilege of viewing Skin House, which was a tightly wrought piece well worth seeing. There were some incredibly beautiful moments, lovely performances and a very attractive and yet concise design. I walked out thoroughly vested in the power of art - I felt genuinely cleansed, which some might think a little odd given a lot of the subject matter deals with the sex industry. While intensely personal, the show demystified and opened up an industry that people often seem to think they know a lot about, but probably are filled with curiosity and questions - and it does it with such honesty, but a touching humor too.
We then went on to opening night tonight, and despite a few things that had to be reexamined for the space, I felt there was new heights of control and some new discoveries within the show. Again, I have been truly humbled by some of the reactions that we have received. Perhaps today even more so, when that feedback has come from those who have never met me before. I feel like we have set a good solid benchmark for the season and things can only build from here - especially as our comfort levels settle back into a normal pattern and we can focus less on extraneous elements and back on the performance as a whole.
On a side note, I have seen more belly dancing today than I have over the past year. Which is such a treat. Particularly to note as we were not expecting a show during our meal, but an explosion of energy rattled through the establishment in the form of a group of very empowered women... and man, those women could hold their own I reckon in any environment.
Very ready for bed, but am exceptionally charged and prepared for the upcoming highlights and challenges of the next week. Bring it on Adelaide!
-Phoebe
We had the privilege of viewing Skin House, which was a tightly wrought piece well worth seeing. There were some incredibly beautiful moments, lovely performances and a very attractive and yet concise design. I walked out thoroughly vested in the power of art - I felt genuinely cleansed, which some might think a little odd given a lot of the subject matter deals with the sex industry. While intensely personal, the show demystified and opened up an industry that people often seem to think they know a lot about, but probably are filled with curiosity and questions - and it does it with such honesty, but a touching humor too.
We then went on to opening night tonight, and despite a few things that had to be reexamined for the space, I felt there was new heights of control and some new discoveries within the show. Again, I have been truly humbled by some of the reactions that we have received. Perhaps today even more so, when that feedback has come from those who have never met me before. I feel like we have set a good solid benchmark for the season and things can only build from here - especially as our comfort levels settle back into a normal pattern and we can focus less on extraneous elements and back on the performance as a whole.
On a side note, I have seen more belly dancing today than I have over the past year. Which is such a treat. Particularly to note as we were not expecting a show during our meal, but an explosion of energy rattled through the establishment in the form of a group of very empowered women... and man, those women could hold their own I reckon in any environment.
Very ready for bed, but am exceptionally charged and prepared for the upcoming highlights and challenges of the next week. Bring it on Adelaide!
-Phoebe
Thursday, February 17, 2011
R-Adelaide
We're in Adelaide!
The Festival is trotting up to the starters' box, the city looks vibrant and there's that feeling that we're part of something big. The comment was made during the drive that there were not enough road signs counting down the kilometres to Radelaide, and no sooner were the words out of my mouth, but sure enough 'RAdelaide' - the countdown had begun.
Driving through town last night, the Garden looks spectacular - a veritable place of wonder. At the other end of North Terrace, can be found the Coopers Urban Garden Experiment at the Nexus Multicultural Arts Complex. We had a wander through (and with a good value mojito on offer, who can say no?) and got acquainted with the space...
As a performer I feel blessed - we've been restricting our rehearsal to the tiniest of all spaces, strictly setting a triangular stage of 2m x 2m - Pythagorus could tell me the other edge, but I'm not giving in to the calculator! Movement has been kept under a watchful eye. To our delight we found the stage is not a strict 2m x 2m right-angle triangle. It is quite generous. The walls have been muralled. And there's a delightful feel of whimsy walking through the Urban Garden into the Gallery. When I walked in, I breathed a sigh of relief and the instant reaction was 'we got it good'. Needless to say, it is beautiful, and a whole bunch of my nervous ticks were put to ease by finally seeing it.
We woke up to the gentle sound of falling rain, and this has put some of our plans to wander on hold... which leaves us to more practical matters... hardware store.
-Phoebe
no blinding light opens tomorrow (19th of February) at the Nexus Gallery.
19-20 Feb 6pm
23-27 Feb 8pm
$18/$14
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Preview photos
Photos of no blinding light rehearsals.
Taken at Truffles Chocolaterie, Richmond.
Photos copywright Jaklene Vukasinovic 2011.
Taken at Truffles Chocolaterie, Richmond.
Photos copywright Jaklene Vukasinovic 2011.
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Friday, February 11, 2011
no blinding light - and we're off!
After months of rehearsing, a year writing and two and a half years grappling with it, no blinding light previewed last night to a full house in Melbourne. I was overwhelmed with the positive responses we've received in all areas of production, which is nice when you're working with a such a good group of people who have all taken ownership and responsibility for what has become quite a powerful piece of theatre.
What's been particularly eye opening, is that this personal story of loss seems to have taken other people on in its wake. Whether someone can relate directly to the transience of online relationships, or the more general sense of loss, more and more responses have come back to me of the tune 'that's like the time when...' That's been something I totally didn't plan on. I'd wanted to tell a story that I felt I had no other way of telling - I met a woman online, we formed an incredibly close but difficult friendship and then she passed away. And unlike any 'normal' grieving process I found that I didn't have any way of expressing what I was going through. So I started writing. But, as far as the artistic thought process went; I wanted to tell a story and had been completely unaware that others would respond so strongly to the material. This first started with Kara and Adrian, who've taken this project to places I could have never foreseen... they've pulled themselves into this work and it now has become a portrayal in which all three of us and our thoughts are enmeshed.
I think my favourite comment from last night was to say that it gave a clear account of someone struggling to contain their emotions. Whether the linear story was understood or not, it washed through with clarity and was incredibly calming. I think this is due to Kara's direction - finding further depth or an unexpected journey in a piece of text - and a great deal to Adrian's music which feeds me, the story and the audience with incredible textural density... As a writer and performer I'm incredibly blessed by this team.
We're on again in Melbourne tonight and then, it's off to Adelaide... A week 'til opening night!
-Phoebe
What's been particularly eye opening, is that this personal story of loss seems to have taken other people on in its wake. Whether someone can relate directly to the transience of online relationships, or the more general sense of loss, more and more responses have come back to me of the tune 'that's like the time when...' That's been something I totally didn't plan on. I'd wanted to tell a story that I felt I had no other way of telling - I met a woman online, we formed an incredibly close but difficult friendship and then she passed away. And unlike any 'normal' grieving process I found that I didn't have any way of expressing what I was going through. So I started writing. But, as far as the artistic thought process went; I wanted to tell a story and had been completely unaware that others would respond so strongly to the material. This first started with Kara and Adrian, who've taken this project to places I could have never foreseen... they've pulled themselves into this work and it now has become a portrayal in which all three of us and our thoughts are enmeshed.
I think my favourite comment from last night was to say that it gave a clear account of someone struggling to contain their emotions. Whether the linear story was understood or not, it washed through with clarity and was incredibly calming. I think this is due to Kara's direction - finding further depth or an unexpected journey in a piece of text - and a great deal to Adrian's music which feeds me, the story and the audience with incredible textural density... As a writer and performer I'm incredibly blessed by this team.
We're on again in Melbourne tonight and then, it's off to Adelaide... A week 'til opening night!
-Phoebe
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