by Kirby Lindsay Laney, posted 14 March 2016
From March 18th – April 16th, West of Lenin hosts another singularly creative theater work; one quite unlike anything we’ve had a chance to see before. Nightly, well-known entertainer Kevin Kent will present a life – a ‘Eulogy’ – presenting colorful ‘recollections’ based on photos provided by the audience of ‘mourners’, for a unique and powerful evening of live theater.
With the help of Joseph Kery, playing a taciturn funeral director, ‘Eulogy’ Director Jennifer Jasper, and a list of the cream of Seattle theater, Kent will deliver stories and ‘memories’ crafted from the arbitrary collection of photos, using his considerable skills as an improvisational performer.
‘Eleanor Mae’, The Loose Screw?
In ‘Eulogy’, Kent brings to life another of his unforgettable women. ‘Eleanor Mae,’ described as ‘a petit medium’, here shares her singular power to connect ‘with the energies that flow from the living,’ by ‘recalling’ a life. “Every single photo has a story,” Kent said, and ‘Eleanor Mae’ will draw out the stories behind the images provided audience members at each performance. “She’s the crazy screw that holds it all together, and she’s a little loose,” Kent explained about ‘Mae.’
More seriously, “when we experience loss or grief,” Kent recently observed, “the thing that holds it together are the pictures that people show. Loss is something that everyone experiences, and the memories, the pictures, make you happy to be a part of their life.”
Photos share snippets of a life, and its stories, even if they aren’t always the ones we expected. At thrift stores, Kent and Kery have discovered old photos, taken for some reason, even though we no longer know who the people are or what the moment meant to them, and Kent, as ‘Mae’, will craft backgrounds for each photo – entertaining and delighting audiences as it goes.
Kent and Kery can share some of the 1,400 photos they’ve found, but they’d rather use photos the ‘Eulogy’ audience – the mourners – bring along. “They can be anything, a scene, a portrait,” Kent offered, “as long as they are printed.” Digital photos, stored in SmartPhones or locked in a hard-drive, won’t work at this ‘Eulogy.’
‘A Wonderful Mix’
Bringing to life this wildly creative theater piece, and attending something so new, might be risky but for the talent behind it. Kent has become very selective in his choice of theater projects. “Circus has become the thing I do,” he explained, and even there he has chosen carefully for the last two decades.
When he developed this entirely new work, he wanted to work with friends, particularly those who would make ‘Eulogy’ shine. He and director Jasper have a long history together in Seattle theater, having both helped build Seattle theater for the last thirty years. According to her, Jasper readily agreed to help once she heard the premise behind ‘Eulogy,’ responding to his request with, “I will if you will.”
Jasper explained that ‘Eulogy’ is ideal for Kent, and his particular talents. “Kevin’s got an expertise, a sensitivity,” she observed, “to finding those bits of darkness and turning them around and making them fun. It’s a wonderful mix.” Using the photos, and his skill with improvisation, “he’ll create a three-dimensional character,” she explained, “a human experience.”
For Jasper, as director of what is essentially a one-man show, her job has been to help identify cues and places in the show where the stories need to wind down and move along. “She’s very good at saying, ‘you have to go here,’” Kent observed.
In his role as Director of Bolten’s Memorials, Kery will also keep the show moving, and help Kent maintain a balance, although he won’t contribute much to the stories. “At this point,” Kery observed in early March, “it has not been determined if I will speak.” What he will do is collect and carefully display, then return, the photos contributed by the audience of ‘mourners’ at each evening’s ‘Eulogy.’
“I’m allowing them to create,” Jasper explained about directing essentially an evening of improv, “and keep it true to what they want.” She encourages Kent, and Kery, to form original material while still guiding the show to its conclusion.
“Once I hit that opening point,” Kent explained, “once I start the stories, they can go anywhere.” Jasper assisted with identifying transitions that keep the free-wheeling, and potentially emotional, show moving. Through her direction, Kent explained, “I know where I have to reach; the points I have to hit.”
With improv, in particular, performers must know where, and how deep, to mine for material – and when to stop. “That’s where I come in,” Kery observed about the Funeral Director. And Kent knows, very, very well, from decades as a performer, and instructor, of improv, “you can pull the taffy too much until it’s hard as a rock.”
Wicked, Sweet & Poignant
‘Eulogy’ creates a new ‘body’ of memories each night, revealing stories sometimes wickedly funny, sometimes stirringly sweet, and sometimes shockingly poignant, to ultimately create a life crystal clear in the reality of the that show.
In addition to re-teaming Jasper and Kent, ‘Eulogy’ brought together other Seattle theater veterans, and friends, for this unusual undertaking. For its Stage Manager, Kent and Jasper recruited Paul Shipp, who they’ve both known, and worked with, for a quarter century. He, “is familiar with how we work,” Jasper explained, allowing them more freedom for creativity, and originality. They’ve also recruited Kevin Joyce as music consultant, and Dave Schmader to help with content.
Lighting designer, and theater owner, A.J. Epstein also contributed to bringing ‘Eulogy’ along. “When A.J. builds something,” Kent observed about West of Lenin (WofL,) “you go.” It took time for Kent to find the project, and the time, for the perfect WofL work. With ‘Eulogy’, it seems the wait is well-rewarded. “It’s a great size for this,” Jasper said.
The right theater, and the right talent, will still only bring ‘Eulogy’ to Fremont from March 18th – April 16th. Get tickets today to be a part of this rare theater opportunity. General admission costs $20, with discounts for seniors and students – and the preview night March 17th. Purchase your tickets now through Brown Paper Tickets, and the West of Lenin website.
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