NOTHING HOLLOW ABOUT IT
Is it possible for a person of color to have a “neutral narrative”: A story untainted by race or gender, disentangled from the ghosts of the past, unaffected by theory and –isms? Is it possible for a person of color to have hollow roots, and if so, is an empty heritage even desirable?
The subject matter of this solo show may be well-trodden, but the performance escapes a trap of self-indulgent personal history by emerging from a vital collaboration of three women of color: writer Christina Anderson, director Lileana Blain-Cruz, and performer April Matthis. The play sends shockwaves of recognition across the audience as Matthis – a paralegal with a passion for playing cello – recounts her quest for a “neutral narrative” in our purportedly post-racial world. Although Matthis remains seated for the duration of the performance, the play rarely feels static; Anderson’s writing is poetic and incisive, dipping into childhood memories and elaborating every sensation of the present moment. Matthis traces her circuitous journey on the palm of her hand: from a cozy family dining restaurant to the rooftop of a swanky party, from the Q13 bus to the concert hall. The settings are enhanced by simple shifts in lighting (Solomon Weisbard) and an evocative soundscape (Ken Goodwin). As Matthis slips into sensuous musical spells, she invokes the audience to their own search for identity.
photos by Yi Zhao
Hollow Roots
Under the Radar Festival at The Public Theater
scheduled to end on January 20, 2013
for tickets, call 212-967-7555 or visit Public Theater