performance > hullab
hullab | performed at Public Pool Artspace | Hamtramck, MI | June 18, 2011 | 20 min. Loosely based on the writings of German Expressionist poet Jakob van Hoddis (1887-1942). Performed by Cabaret Black Eye (Chris Butterfield, Carie Ann Costa, Andy Gabrysiak and Ryan Standfest). Jenn Paull provided the sound, with samples from Kurt Weill, Jack Hylton and His Band, Sergei Prokofiev, and Arseni Avraamov's 1922 "Symphony of Sirens." Conception by Ryan Standfest.
flyer by Andy Gabrysiak
prop: the "baby" puppet (by Andy Gabrysiak)
prop: the three death masks
Steadman Steadman (Ryan Standfest) plays
Steadman Steadman reads from "A Treasury for Boys"
Steadman Steadman receives a wrong call
bored, he places his head into a pail of milk
inspired by the milk, he begins to compose a text
the text awakens his doubles SS 1 (Christopher Butterfield) and SS 2 (Andy Gabrysiak)
Steadman Steadman studies SS 1 and SS 2
Josephine (Carie Ann Costa) sits at Steadman Steadman's desk and studies her "dream house"
Steadman Steadman produces "Baby" and looks on in disapproval at Josephine and her "dream house" while SS 2 looks on.
Steadman Steadman and "Baby"
enraged, Steadman Steadman takes a mallet to "Baby"
Steadman Steadman smashes "Baby"
after smashing the "dream house," Steadman Steadman hears music; mud from the smashed "dream house" is on his forehead
SS 1 and SS 2 join Steadman Steadman in confronting Josephine
but then SS 1 and SS 2 turn on Steadman Steadman, join Josephine and take aim at Steadman Steadman with pistols
SS 1 and SS 2 shoot Steadman Steadman dead; but because they are also he, the two also die.
Steadman Steadman is resurrected with a death mask
SS 1 and SS 2 join Steadman Steadman, also wearing death masks
the three Steadmans destroy their childish things: a stuffed animal, firecrackers, and MAD magazine
the three dead Steadman's serenade Josephine and the audience with a rendition of "Happy Days Are Here Again"
