If the music of bodies in motion sounds appealing to you, then Desire/Regret may be a piece of curiosity. Inspired by A Streetcar Named Desire, the wordless performance is a dream-like montage of images and sounds.
The work is the brainchild of Jenifer Alonzo, a multi-disciplinary theatre artist who has been working on the piece since 2006. Deaf and hearing actors make up the cast in this thought-provoking example of collaborative efforts by a four-person directing team. Although the storylines are muddy at times, the physicality of the relationships is startlingly clear. The performance space functions as a playground while moving images are paired with acoustic rhythm and breath.
It’s clear that this ensemble has developed an original process of creation. The result is a mixed effect. At times the entire performance seems as fresh and entertaining as an improvisational exercise, at others the frenetic activity is confusing and unsettling. More often Desire/Regret illuminates the ordinary as artistic expression. A body in space as a thing of beauty is not a new concept, but it is one of continual interest, showcased delightfully here.
The concept of the piece managed to outweigh the execution, but for anyone interested in moving art, this may just be your thing. Keep your personal baggage handy; what the performance lacks in clarity of storytelling, it makes up for by evoking emotional response.
- Running Time: 65 Minutes
- Tickets: Desire/Regret
- Remaining Shows: Fri, July 25 at 6 . Sun, July 27 at 2
- Where: Source, 1835 14th Street, NW
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