The 33 Hours Marathon, or Char goes to camp

Leaving for camp
Originally uploaded by Chazzyg.

The time: Saturday morning, August 5, 10:45 am. I've loaded up the scooter with a sleeping bag and backpack, and slung my portable Roland keyboard over my shoulder. My destination? The Parlor, at 1170 S. Broad. For the next 33 hours (or so), I'll be locked in with 20 other theater artists in a Marathon event hosted by Whit MacLaughlin and New Paradise Laboratories. I'm indulging in a slight Jack Kerouac fantasie here - travelling light on the scooter, arriving at the event unencumbered by bourgeouis appurtenances. Or something to that effect.

On the way
Originally uploaded by Chazzyg.

And here I go, headed up the street. D'Arcy took this picture while wondering whether I'd remembered to sew the nametags in my underwear. If only she knew...

33Hrs4
Originally uploaded by Chazzyg.

We started out with movement exercises like these (actually snapped during the Sunday AM warmup) - a little yoga, a little Viewpoints, a little Suzuki, all whipped together by Maestro MacLaughlin into a frothy New Paradise blend.

33Hrs2
Originally uploaded by Chazzyg.

We made two sets of pieces on Saturday afternoon. The first set involved sculpting one another, creating scripts for our sculptures, then weaving the scenarios together; we took these pieces through several iterations. After a break, we made a second set of pieces where we divided into teams of three and were told to create something 90 seconds long. We were given all of 10 minutes for this assignment, and the pressure led to some quick, exhilarating decisions.

By then, it was time for food, beer and fun - the chief agenda items of the evening. We grilled burgers and hotdogs in the courtyard, feasted on a serious lentil and tabbouleh salad, and washed it all down with cases of Yuengling Lager and Lord Chesterfield Ale. This led to drinking games in the pool and (eventually) dancing in the darkened studio, where DJ Jorge Cousineau spun some otherworldly beats and the younger participants indulged in some serious contact improvisation. The photo above was an indecipherable black-ish blur in my Palm camera until the magic of Photoshop revealed the figures you see.

33Hrs3
Originally uploaded by Chazzyg.

Further nocturnal foolishness included some yoga poses on a tall stool. Being of a more advanced age and a more seemly disposition, I turned in around eleven, but the thumping bass and high-spirited laughter seeped under the door for several more hours.

33Hrs8
Originally uploaded by Chazzyg.

Next day we were divided into three teams and given assignments for the pieces that would be included in the Sunday evening performance. Here are some of the members of my team, huddled in discussion. We had various items to inspire us, including this Rumi poem:

There is some kiss we want
with our whole lives,
the touch of Spirit on the body.

Seawater begs the pearl
to break its shell.

And the lily, how passionately
it needs some wild Darling!

At night, I open the window
and ask the moon to come
and press its face against mine.
Breathe into me.

Close the language-door,
and open the love-window

The moon won't use the door,
only the window.

Before the Love Window
Originally uploaded by Chazzyg.

We fashioned a piece that included a movement duet in front of the window in the studio, which we imagined as an analogue for the "love window" in Rumi's poem.

Dali sculpture
Originally uploaded by Chazzyg.

Another source of inspiration was this print by Salvadore Dali; two members of my group tried to find a way to imitate the pose of Narcissus gazing at his reflection.

33HrsJorgInv
Originally uploaded by Chazzyg.

Jorge Cousineau whipped up a digital soundscape that included a track of me playing "Linus and Lucy" on a busted upright piano whose bass notes sounded like incredible church bells. Jorge recorded and edited all day non-stop in order to keep up with the creative ideas of the three teams.

Whit MacLaughlin greets the crowd
Originally uploaded by Chazzyg.

At 7:30 pm on Sunday, a group of curious friends assembled to see our mad creations. Here's Whit MacLaughlin welcoming the crowd. I hope they had as much fun watching as we did making these pieces!