RoosevElvis - The TEAM - Out There at the Walker

Photo: Rachel Chavkin

(Originally posted on Minnesota Theater Love)

Yeah!! It is BACK! The Out There Series at the Walker Art Center! One of my favorite times of the year as it opens me up to new forms of theater, new groups, and really interesting and fascinating performance pieces.

First show is by The Team from Brooklyn. The show is RoosevElvis - a two person show about Ann, Brenda, Teddy Roosevelt, and Elvis Presley. One of the tough things about the Out There series is trying to describe the plot and/or show. The reason for this is that sometimes the script is non-linear, or there is no real story-line. RoosevElvis is about Ann who works at a meat processing plant in South Dakota. She talks to Elvis in her mind and after she meets Brenda, she starts taking on aspects of Elvis. Elvis also has dialogues with someone Theodore Roosevelt. (Why Teddy Roosevelt you ask? From what is said in the show, Elvis had a quote of Roosevelt's on his office wall.) Together Teddy and Elvis help Ann figure out how to be more herself and how to accept who she is. Playing the two roles (Ann/Elvis, and Brenda/Teddy) are Libby King and Kirsten Sieh. They are both amazing with each character being very distinct - even when there are no costume changes.

Photo: Sue Kessler

The dialogue is a good blend of history, personal stories, discussion on what is masculine and how to be a man, and gender. Ann is gay and is not confident in that, nor as comfortable in her sexuality (at least when it comes to relationships) as Brenda expects, or others. There are also questions about her gender as she doesn't fit in the front office with the rest of the girls, nor is she really "one of the guys" on the floor of the plant.

Photo: Nick Vaughan

The set was versatile showing a crappy apartment room at start, and changing to a crappy motel room towards the end. There is great use of video screens to help tell the story, including clips from "Thelma and Louise" and some other show. It is funny - so funny, and yet thought-provoking. It has a beautiful ending that ties everything together so well.

I look forward to seeing more from the TEAM, and hope they return. I'm also looking forward to the next three shows in the Out There series.