Hopefully, ‘3volution’ will be a passing phase
“3volution (thReEvolution),” a mixed-media opus written and directed by Jason R. Jenn, landed with a thud Thursday at Highways Performance Space. A student of performance art pioneer Rachel Rosenthal (who gets a consultation credit), Jenn gives the genre a lousy name.
Featuring Jenn and an ensemble of nine, this 70-minute history of humanity is divided into three parts. “Phase One: Childhood (Amphibious Alien Articulation)” is notable for Federico Hewson’s two-headed frog (in pink tights), teetering from suspended ropes. In between ribbits, he complains of being beaten and strung up. Meanwhile, Jenn, as “Cosmic Radiation,” enters in gobs of green glitter (he’s bacteria and micromatter), accompanied by a trio of hula-hooping go-go dancers (Karyl Newman, Kathryn Hargreaves and Nathalie Broizat).
R. Sky Palkowitz plays portable keyboard and screeches, “Evolution
“Phase Two: Adulthood (Hostage of Human History)” sinks further. Jenn, now sporting a harness and black pleather pants, hangs upside down from a pulley cable. Two more pleathered men affect macho stances, Jenn is lowered to the floor, and the aforementioned trio faux-inject him with large hypos.
“Phase Three: Maturity (Process from Peacock to Phoenix)” finds Jenn adorned in plastic bottles, arms outstretched, wishing for rebirth. “The ReBegin is here,” he coos repeatedly, as the ensemble muddles through a scarf dance.
Throughout, there is some colorful video footage, but this is one revolution that would be best left untelevised.
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‘3Volution (thReEvolution)’
Where: Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica
When: Today, 8:30 p.m.
Price: $15
Contact: (310) 315-1459
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