Anna Marie Shogren and Eddie Oroyan’s work is so clearly made through their eyes. I feel like each of them cut a very very thin slice of each of their experiences in the world, put them on a slide and let me examine them under a microscope for 45 minutes. Sometimes they were intriguing and delightful, and once in a while I found myself wandering as I was studying. Perhaps part of the examination is examining myself wandering. I wonder if I am making sense…Anna Marie’s “LaBrea” felt like it compounded everyday moments in just the right way to release them in ways that let the pressure out of my head. Some of the simplest moments made all the sense in the world: Natalie Bogira comfortably wrapping her arm around the corner of a bare mattress as though she was just fine with what she could encompass, Anna Marie being dragged around on her belly as a part of an awkward razzle dazzle ’em moment, an intricately designed trio moving from one side of the stage to another. Watching Anna Marie perform is a treat. The layers of satire, sarcasm, sincerity and smarts unfold and fold in, alternately lending her performance to utter sincerity and harsh commentary. Some of the middle bits I don’t remember. They didn’t brand themselves on my brain like other moments.Eddie’s “Brown Rocket”presented itself as a roller coaster of emotion, motion and commotion. Eddie’s movement vocabulary, as well as the sheer joy with which he and Laura Selle move separately and together, provide a lush canvas on which to paint Eddie’s intentions. Collin Sherraden’s magically clever set design, along with Danny Sigelman’s beautifully chaotic paintings defined the Southern as a new space. A few scenes stand out in my mind as particularly memorable: the couch sequence evoked many an awkward intimate moment, the opening scene in all its colorful and vivid glory and finally the end, when it all comes magically, silently crashing down. Much of the middle material was hypnotic to me due to the nature of the live music and the almost repetitive series of eternal, internal made external struggle. Again, though, I wonder as I wander. So I’m not mad that I was somewhat distracted during sections of each piece. I seem to be thinking about editing and filtering a lot these days…I’m not sure where the balance is. I will remember and savor the moments that resonated. And there weren’t a lack of these moments in both pieces.
