JULY 21, 2021 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 7
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as well as reminders of how many of us strove to keep up some normal patterns during the abnormal period of high Covid days and a crucial election. The two floor wipers are portrayed by two of the co-writers – Jaylene Clark Owens and Taysha Marie Canales, and both give credible and commendable performances. Both use the upper parts of their faces well to deliver a salutary subtext, Canales being especially good in this regard. They could only use the upper half of the face because both wear masks during the entire performance. The two most interesting works in Wilma’s HotHouse project are dominated by dance and music. The Rot could best be described as a high-end music video, well-conceived and well-executed. The central talent in this piece is Sarah Gliko, who wrote and performed the song that runs throughout the video. Gliko. who wrote both music and lyrics of that song, is joined by Anthony MartinezBriggs, who wrote the rap lyrics spoken over the music at certain stretches delivering his lyrics powerfully. Gliko is also joined in The Rot
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word about Notes on Music this issue, John Hold Fast. Photo: By Johanna Austin. Lane was out in a little too much sun last week and didn’t drink sufby Campbell O’Hare longer fully recognizThe most interesting ficient water. Coming and Justin Jain, who able. In addition to bepiece in the HotHouse home on the bus, John perform manically ening the sole performer, Shorts program so far became dehydrated and ergetic dance numbers Rishard also wrote the is Hold Fast. The sole that are well suited to performer here is Steven text, designed the sound had to be rushed to the hospital for a few days Gliko’s music. (O’Hare Rishard. Rishard is a and worked out his and then to a rehab to and Jain apparently did visual artist as well as cryptic choreography. recuperate. their own choreography an accomplished actor. The Lagniappe Project Our thoughts and for their appearances.) is a short documentary (Some of his paintings prayers go out to John as Michael Kiley handled were featured online in showing actor Melanye he regains his strength the audio mix and pro- Art From the Walls of Finister meeting a group duction, while the video Azuka in the spring of of young people from editing was handled by 2020.) His sensibilities Northern Children’s taste the intense flavors Campbell O’Hare. Services and collaborat- of this stew as Minister in that discipline are Like many music vid- reflected in Hold Fast, ing with those youngand the young prepare eos, The Rot also has a sters to make a rich where a series of enit and then savor it. number of elements that grossing visual images gumbo. Finister, a Loui- Briana Gause served as seem too (??) random, are enhanced by a cap- siana native, is proud the videographer and awhile nervous jump of the gumbo recipe she editor of this documentivating soundscape. cuts sometimes detract That soundscape blends shares with the young tary that captures the from, rather than enpeople and all the view- importance of people a range of mesmeric hance, the strong visual music, much of it mini- ers of this video. She connecting in times like images. But taken as a malist, and a voice-over has reason for that pride these and how the act of whole, this is an engag- which is essentially – the recipe has evident- preparing and enjoying ing piece of collaboraly been passed down dark-tinged poetry defood together is one of tive performances that through generations of the prime ways of conscribing the emotional is well worth a view. journey of an individual her Creole family, most necting. Make that a repeated recently from Melanye’s trying to find his place All of the Wilma Hotview. mother. You can almost in a world that is no
and returns to writing his column shortly. It is a warning to all of us to remember to stay out of the direct sun and heat as much as we can and above all to drink plenty of water during these very hot summer days. John, we look forward to your next column and so do many other readers! Bob and Claudia Christian, editors House Shorts, including ones not mentioned here, are available free online. To view any or all of the Shorts, simply go to the Wilma website or the Theatre Philadelphia website, click on through, register and enjoy the works at your convenience. Once you’re registered, the Shorts are available for viewing – or repeat viewing – at any time.
The Philadelphia School of Dance Arts West Philadelphia 9 North Preston Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 215-387-8202
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Dancing like we never missed a beat….
