Jill's PLAF Diary for Wednesday, September 13

Performances: Bitch on Wheels (The Elastic Theater) (Future performances); Flyin' High (Shaneca Adams) (Future performances).

...And then there are those nights that you really plan to go to only one show, and you end up at two. You know, to make up for that cancelled show on Monday night. They're in the same venue, on the same night, 15 minutes apart, so why not? There was wine and beer there, anyway.

Bitch on Wheels
Viewers beware: if you expect it to make sense, you won't have any fun. Even when the aerialism starts. The show is short, it's smart, it's funny, but it's completely nonlinear and the ending is pretty darn illogical. Oh, and there's no real roller skating.

My favorite moments in the show happened above ground, on the walls, the ceilings, and the stair railing. Much of the cast is or has been in De La Guarda, and there was an onstage "referee" to help the performers get in and out of their harnesses and onto the rigging. The one truly emotional moment of the show came from one character running in circles, rebounding off the walls, as the owner of the roller derby venue tried to lecture him about his lifestyle. And even that scene wasn't without irony and humor.

I wish I had more to say about Bitch on Wheels, but it was so short and over so fast, that I didn't really have time to form an opinion. I just had fun.
Festival rating: Good to very good.

Flyin' High
I wasn't planning on seeing this show, but I'm sure glad I stayed for it. Writer/performer Shaneca Adams launched into this one-man show only a few minutes after his performance in Bitch on Wheels, and I'd imagine he was exhausted by the end of the night. He kicks off his performance with a series of prat falls and impressive feats of upper-body strength that, frankly, made me concerned for his safety. When he launches into his monologue (performed as Sweet Dickie Jane, the performaholic spawn of two hippie parents), the entertainment doesn't stop. Adams sings, plays drums, and spins so much that the audience almost gets dizzy along with him. And that's while he's still on the ground. After the spinning, Dickie Jane is connected to the ceiling by the harness under his overalls, and he confesses (no surprise) that he's a performaholic. He finishes the piece in the air; a strong conclusion and a fitting end to a delightful character. Of the two aerialism-included shows, I actually enjoyed this one far more. I can't believe I almost missed it!
Festival rating: Very good.