Leonard
Cohen's
Beautiful Losers
comes to the stage in the author's home city.
The
Laboratory for Enthusiastic Collaboration (LEC) has distilled Cohen's
masterful, linguistic trick of the novel into a powerful performance
event. Utilizing an almost bare stage, three actors portraying dozens of
characters (often at the same time) and a highly physical, kaleidoscopic
performance style the LEC has put its unique stylistic stamp on this
challenging and original text.
The
LEC is an ongoing nomadic theatrical experiment originating in Vermont.
For the past four years LEC has been turning varied dramatic and literary
texts into theatre which pushes the boundaries of what we know as theatre.
Often using non-traditional venues and unconventional processes,
Laboratory researchers have worked collaboratively and experimentally
around America and across international borders to create an impressive
and eclectic body of work.
LEC
Founder and Artistic Director Aaron Kahn, who directs this production,
Playwright in Residence Ira S. Murfin and Production Manager/Co-founder
Amy B. Davis began the adaptation and conceptualization process for Beautiful
Losers nine months ago in the Arizona desert. Since then the
production has grown to include Barbara Whitney of the renowned Sandglass
Theater in Putney, VT and Paul Wolfe, an original LEC member who has
returned from exile in Bangkok, Thailand to participate in this process.
The director and playwright, both veterans of the Chicago and New York
theater scenes, have worked together with the company to create the
markedly individual script, staging and style of this play.
The
LEC is extremely pleased to be able to present, as "work in
progress", this
adaptation as part of the Leonard Cohen Event 2000. The opening night
performance on Friday, June 12th in Moyse Hall should set the tone
perfectly for the weekend devoted to reflection upon and celebration of a
brilliant songwriter, poet and novelist.
Beautiful
Losers
will continue June 1st - 3rd at the Hooker-Dunham Theater in the LEC's
hometown of Brattleboro, VT. It will then return to Montreal for the
International Fringe Festival June 10th - 17th.
So climb inside an ordinary eternal machine hurtling across time through memory, history, religion and going to the movies towards a most remarkable transformation. Question the fidelity of everything and seek absolute truth with the old question "Are the stars tiny after all?" The LEC's Beautiful Losers will show it all happening.
Updated
April 2000