Review

“Becoming the Intrinsic Beloved’
A  Psychedelic  Cabaret Performance Chronicling the Journey to Self
Jill Marlene Producer with Nada Dada Motel
Reviewed by Jim Eaglesmith

A performing artist in this area since the 70’s I am  moved to reflect openly, and offer kudo’s to a work that re inspired me to look at when I stopped taking risks with my own creative expressions. The past week I’ve been dealing with some physically painful experiences in my body but for two hours this evening I was absolutely free of Pain!

As a whole the music, dancing and choreopgraphy defies description or superlatives from my vocabulary. This work was a microcosm  of our human evolution. The world is indeed our stage and we actors. While Jill as co  writer, and exec producer, featured herself throughout it was not without true merit or without honoring each person’s unique gifts  as a piece of the greater mosaic. She was indeed a thread weaving it all together. I especially liked the aerial dancers on a long white silk scarf hanging from a 13ft tripod Reminiscent of‘Controlled Burn”   

This work took risks as most would not attempt the Gothic Dominatrix scene with the submissive strong male surrendering  to the whims of his woman’s leather stinging whip lashes on bare back. For me a bit of a stretch though I appreciated how it spoke to the theme and was all done tastefully. The partial nudity scenes were enough to hold your divided attention as the music, singing and colorful exotic wardrobe took us into a surrealistic mindset free of time and space.

“I was palpably aware of the Divine Feminine presence in the room.”

*Tonight’s June 19th 3rd and final performance of BTIB began late .. due to the line at the door waiting to get in and seated. That’s the kinda delay we all forgive as it helps build suspense.. While the beloved audience were filing in and murmuring to one another the music ensemble on the stage began what I perceived as an improv doodling melody and as each member found a place it morphed into a groove with as life of its own until running its course and faded to Jill Marlene’s intro of the first act.

* The journey begins with’ Innocence’ which sets the stage for introducing some of the soloists, dancers and unique choreography to some old favs from Donovan, Dolly and Shakespeare.
*I especially liked the aerial dancers on a long white silk scarf hanging from a 13ft tripod reminiscent of ‘Controlled Burn’ !

Then ‘Experience’ opens with Marlenes’rendition of Grace Slicks ‘White Rabbit’ rocking to a delightful young ballerina emulating Alice? Or whoever your imagination goes. Mine flashed back to my psychedelic days between Sunset blvd and Golden Gate Park. Then the dancers captured the stage wearing black velvet and leather giving us a visual to the music of Genesis and Velvet Underground while the soloists again lifted their voices to fever pitch before the break. By now Everyone needed a drink!

Part Two- Opens with

Alienation:

And a young Cellist prodigy setting the tone for a provocative dance choreography which featured several soloists to Pink Floyd, Eurhythmics, and Indigo Girls too. While still a little dark it begins to answer questions about who are we and where are we going. The accent into light, emotions of joy and relief are welcomed.

Illumination:

Shows us that our shadow and painful experience are but an integral part of the whole and worth no more or less than the pleasureful ones. The last few songs reconnects us to our earthly roots with the Green Man Piece, while also reminding me of my place in the cosmos .

The closing number embraced the cast singers, dancer’s , choreographers and musicians in a celebration of life as they all collapsed around Jill and vibrating to her pure falsetto voice promising to shatter any crystal glasses within a mile of the room. In that moment We all became a Unified family in love with its own humanity under G-d. I hope S/he was watching!

Finally, I am reminded of how much art and culture exists in this Biggest little Art Town and has for as long as I remember. Some of us weren’t born when Posey Butterfields hosted acoustic music  in the bar at what is now Rapscallion’s dinner house from the 70’s… I am appreciating the new wave of young artists today who may be misunderstood by some of us but not without earning the respect they so deserve. My congrats to Jill for loving herself in front of us all and with that the audience fell in love with her too!

This work, like some productions I have been involved with over the years, rivals many off Broadway plays including, Cat’s and Vagina Monologues. Marlene herself reminded me of Jeanmarie Simpson in her One Woman Play a couple years back. Classy and thoughtful. I trust that’s a compliment.

‘Becoming the Intrinsic  Beloved’ bold, fresh and transcendent, earned an encore performance on a much bigger stage tonight.
For me, Reno really is and has been Artown all these years. And now it finally has…
a truly “Hard Act to Follow”!

In loving service,  jimiji

JimEaglsmith.com
jeaglesmith@aol.com