MULTI-DIMENSIONAL
The virtuosic Fleur Elise Noble (performer, director, and set designer) constructs a world of artistic possibilities in 2 Dimensional Life of Her. Across a series of flat surfaces – the shadow of a woman standing atop a chair, large panels spanning the 
back of the theater and stage right, sheets and signs and crumpled papers that pop in and out of the scene – she projects an array of animated imagery. The projection of a female artist (Noble herself), who actually looks more like a housekeeper than an artist in her dress and turban, scrubs away at the surfaces to reveal an array of characters and landscapes: cartoonish figures, puppets, realist films. Across a day of working in the studio, the artist’s genre-crossing creations spring to life – with the significant help of Jeremy Neideck’s surround soundscape – and begin to overtake her artistic vision. Can she reassert directorial control?
2 Dimensional Life of Her is easy on the eyes, but rough on the back; this 40 minute art installation has its audience perched upon stairs rather than in traditional seats. A more interesting choice may have been to have the audience interact with the performance and take in its various 2 dimensional surfaces in a more 3 dimensional way, wandering the space as an art exhibit rather than sitting in a traditional theatrical performance. After all, 2 Dimensional Life of Her works in dreamscapes and fluidity of meaning; the audience may have benefited from some flexibility in their own positioning.
photos by Jamie Williams
2 Dimensional Life of Her
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
then plays at OFF CENTER FESTIVAL at Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa, CA
January 30 – February 2, 2013
review of 2 Dimensional Life of Her at RADAR 2011 in Los Angeles