ON THE VERGE. To 23 April.

York

ON THE VERGE: AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY
by Mike Kenny

Theatre Royal Studio 21-23 April 2005
7.45pm
Runs 1hr 15min No interval

TICKETS; 01904 623568
Review: Timothy Ramsden 19 April at The Castle Wellingborough

York is last-chance saloon for seeing this remarkable, reflective record of a cross-continent journey.York's where Jez Colborne hangs up his Harley at the end of a long tour about an even longer journey, a pillion-ride on a Harley Davidson 1450cc bike along route 66 across the USA. In place of the dreaded holiday snaps, he's returned with video of people and places that builds from a travelogue into a particular view of the States.

Colborne's fascinated with machines. Not just the Harley; there's video evidence here he could sit watching a combine harvester all day. There's a name for this: Williams Syndrome and it has another aspect, depending which Williams website you visit. Apparently, the British version lists over-friendliness as a characteristic; the American doesn't. A cultural difference; you don't need a syndrome to be friendly in the States.

There are fascinating sights here; Monument Valley's stark beauty set against a sculpted pile of old cars. Then there's Californian Elmer who, over decades, has turned litter into loveliness, creating a glass forest of glinting bottle-trees.

When Americans are asked to identify their country's characteristic, freedom is the answer they give, from NY to LA. Whether it's hymned by a Texas cowboy, master of the mosey (as in mosey on down') or a Spiderman on city streets, freedom's the American Dream (as the plays says, can you speak of a Scottish Dream, an English Dream a Welsh?).

Only one person speaks differently, of a new authoritarianism taking over. And that's a red-lipped transvestite. Which moseys into Colborne's final reflection. Mind The Gap combines disabled and non-disabled artists. Those of us without a syndrome to our name might watch Colborne perform solo for 75 minutes, including singing and accompanying himself on keyboard and ask what's disabled here (as he points out, he's the one who fulfilled his American Dream on a Harley and had the Arts Council pay).

But, against the rear-view image of a distant Statue of Liberty, he marks his leather jacket with a chalk cross, describing how, a century ago, the feeble-minded' were turned away from the Land of the Free. Alongside the encounters described, the events videod, it makes you think.

Cast:
Jez Colborne

Director: Tim Wheeler
Film-maker: Jonathan Bentley
Sound: Hightone Productions
Music: Jez Colborne

2005-04-20 09:00:14