Thursday, January 28, 2010

Passionate About The Passion Project

I’m not sure what happened.

When I entered the theatre, I liked what I saw. More art installation than set, the space was filled with cold pipes and thick ropes, rough wood and primitive hooks. The lighting was evocative. In the corner was a stool. On the floor outside the main cage of screens, laid a square of light with a simply drawn heart. When the show began, the frames became screens of varying sizes onto which were projected black and white film images. The hanging wood and bare floor received lines of projected type in several languages.

I was interested, then intrigued, then involved, then absorbed. At some point, my eyes filled with tears. When it was over, I didn’t want to move. Or talk.

The show is called The Passion Project and it is a marvel of interdisciplinary genius. Using portions of three versions of Carl Dreyer’s film The Passion of Joan of Arc as its starting point, The Passion Project combines film, music, commentary, text, and live performance, embedding them in a “set” that is really an interactive gallery installation.

What fascinates me most is that I am not sure which aspect – which art – got me. And I don’t really care. All I know is that I saw something really special tonight. Thank you to Reid Farrington and Laura K. Nicoll; Ron Reed, and Pacific Theatre.