Saturday, June 09, 2007

Passing Strange: Finding the "Real" In Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll



New York

Last night, I had one of those rare moments in life--something exceeded my expectations. And it was a punk rock musical at the Public Theater.

The production is a cooperative venture between the New York Public Theater and Berkeley Repertory Theater. Developed at the Sundance Theatre Lab, Passing Strange tells the story "of a young black bohemian in search of self and home who charts a course for 'the real' through sex, drugs, and rock and roll" and journeys "from black, middle-class America to Amsterdam, Berlin, and beyond," according to Playbill magazine.

It was the classic growing up story, narrated by Stew, the genius behind the concept and the music. The dramatic arc is created between the mother, a single parent who has raised the main character, played brilliantly by Daniel Breaker, in SouthCentral L.A. and Breaker's character's search for "the real". The son begins by exchanging Baptist youth groups for composing his own rock songs with limited success in L.A. As his mother, Eisa Davis, pleads with him to go to college or find a job, he digs deeper into his quest for meaning. Eventually, his journey leads him first to Amsterdam where, with the help of an ensemble cast, he discovers drugs and sex beyond his wildest dreams. Then on to Berlin where he's a part of the revolution.

Stew and co-composer Heidi Rodewald spotlight Christmas in Berlin. Only the mother and the boy are on stage, as the mother calls to see if he will be home for Christmas. "That's not my home anymore," he declares. "Get a smaller place, find someone else to share the holidays with. I've got my own life to live-- don't expect me back."

The boy has composed a piece just for his comrades--that he wants to perform for them on Christmas Day. But, he finds out that they are all going home for the holiday. "But you don't even like those middle class, boring people," he proclaims. To which they reply: " It's our family. In Germany, we go home for the holiday."

In the final scene ( predictable, perhaps, but nevertheless compelling ), the "Youth" is delivering the eulogy at his mother's funeral, not having seen her prior to her death, and begins to crack open the notion of "love with understanding", the losses of maturity that accompany finding meaning in the day to day, the complexities of families ,and the disappointment of finding out that loved ones (and the world ) are imperfect.

Stew, who offers pithy comments throughout the play adds his own summary sidebar: "And so, it's true. Your mother does know everything."

The audience was on their feet before the lights went down after the last electric guitar twang cheering for the multi-talented cast and core of three musicians who carried the show. A great night of theater.

For those who are near or in New York, go see it. You won't be disappointed.
M.C.

1 comment:

Linda said...

Thanks for sharing these great performance experiences. Sounds like another wonderful time at the theater!