Performance piece with transcriptionist
Leo Daedalus, 2010
Mark Owens, Leo Daedalus and David Abel perform Replay (part 2)
Score
Replay (2010) is a performance piece in two parts for one or more performers and a transcriptionist.
In Replay (part 1) a transcriptionist transcribes everything said during the course of part 1 by the performer(s), audience and indeed any voice within hearing range. At least one performer is to perform an action which is in some way reversible. The end of part 1 is signalled when a performer picks a random playing card from a deck, holds the card up for the audience to see, and announces, "Let the record show that [name of performer] is holding up the [name of card]."
Replay (part 2) can commence whenever the transcript has been printed out or otherwise made available to the performer(s) who will read it. While they do so, the performer(s) who performed any "reversible actions" in part 1 are to perform such actions in reverse. At the end, when the playing card announcement is read, the original card picker is to again pick a random, and most likely different, card from the deck and hold it up for the audience to see. Fin.
Performance
Replay premiered as part of Waiting for Stretchers, Nov. 28, 2010 in Portland, Oregon. Transcriptionist Elizabeth Luce was planted in the audience with a laptop to transcribe everything said during part 1. This was known only to four people: me, Elizabeth, Anna Daedalus, and Mo, the owner of the Open Space cafe where we performed.
In the course of part 1 I prompted the audience for words, phrases and sentences, bearing in mind that in part 2 the transcript would be read by David Abel and Mark Owens (though I couldn't know who would read which words). For my reversible action I removed my necktie. At the end I picked the seven of clubs.
While the rest of the Waiting for Stretchers performance proceeded, Elizabeth cleaned up the transcript and slipped into a back room to print out two copies. After various technical difficulties, she emerged with the printouts at exactly the moment that I was getting up to commence part 2.
In part 2 I instructed David and Mark to read alternating lines of the transcript. I stood between them, putting my necktie back on. At the end I held up a face card. I don't remember which, and the photos are unclear. How suitably mysterious.
> See also: Waiting for Stretchers post