“Eve” An immersive dance/theatre experience @ the Gym at Judson
By Patrick Christiano
“EVE” is a captivating theatrical experience that opened last week at the Gym at Judson in the West Village where the astonishing award winning production, created and directed by Kate Mueth, will be running for a limited engagement through October 1.
“EVE” is a dramatic immersive dance/theatre experience where you are free to wander wherever you wish through the expansive 11 room set, while the action happens around you. Ms. Mueth is the founder of The Neo-Political Cowgirls, and she has brought their award winning unique theatrical experience, “EVE” from the Hamptons to New York City, with a fully committed cast of explosive actors that perform, move and dance with an organic freedom that never feels less than spontaneous and in the moment.
The ironic story follows the human struggle of the perfect woman created by the mad ‘Maker’ for his own selfish purposes. When the Maker sets Eve, his perfect woman, fee in today’s world with a companion, ‘Man,’ their extremely emotional journeys take divergent paths through a world of hideous expectations into the discovery of their own free will, while simultaneously challenging the control of their genius maker’s obsessive possessiveness. Told with an edgy exaggerated emotional force and a minimum of dialogue, the kinetic movement and exciting dance, choreographed by Vanessa Walters with affecting precision, is executed seamlessly by the outstanding cast.
The demanding production requires a double cast because of the intense 28 performance schedule that has two shows nightly on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and 10:00 pm. At the performance I attended Julia Motyka was a radiant naïve Eve, perplexed by the powerful affects of her discoveries and experiences, while Josh Gladstone was an intensely zealous corrupt Maker. The double cast varies from performance to performance. Ana Nieto, who created the role of Eve, performs the role as well, and Lydia Franco Hodges, who is one of the evening’s producers and has been a part of “EVE’s” three year journey to New York, doubles as the Maker with Mr. Gladstone.
“EVE” is a provocative evening of theater that breaks down the fourth wall giving us the opportunity to be more intimately connected with the unfolding action that takes place without an intermission for a visually stunning 90 plus minutes. Each spectator at “EVE” may come away with entirely different experience. We are what we create or are we? “EVE” ponders that eternal question.
A cool soundtrack that relies heavily on the rock group Dead Can Dance, Nine Inch Nails and Grace Jones accompanies the sensual production that was voted Best Theatre Group and Best Theatrical Show in the Hampton’s by “Dan’s Papers.”
Here is a link to some video of a rehearsal for “EVE” giving an idea of the intensity of the production.
Click Here to View Video “Eve”
If you are a traditionalist and are not willing to move out of your box by all means avoid “EVE,” if on the other hand, you are open to new experiences from life don’t miss “EVE.”
Remaining Performances
Sun., 9/20@7:30pm
Tues., 9/22@7:30pm
Thurs., 9/24 @7:30pm and 10:00pm
Fri., 9/25 @ 7:30pm and 10:00pm
Sat., 9/26 @7:30pm and 10:00pm
Sun., 9/27 @7:30pm
Tues., 9/29@7:30pm
Thurs, 10/1 @7:30pm and 10:00pm
Fri., 10/2 @ 7:30pm and 10:00pm
LOCATION: The Gym at Judson, 243 Thompson Street, New York, NY.
TICKETS: npceve.brownpapertickets.com
Conceived/Directed/Original choreography by Kate Mueth
Choreographed by Vanessa Walters
Cast: Ana Nieto (Eve), Lydia Franco Hodges/Josh Gladstone (The Maker), Brinda Dixit, Vanessa Walters, Jennifer Sydor (Chorus), Sebastiania Romagnolo (Man), Emi Oshima (Shadow), Leslie Cuyjet (Lilith), Brinda Dixit, Kasia Klimiuk, Vincent Cinque (Host/Hostess), Margaret Pulkingham, Kasia Klimiuk, Irina Thompson, David Wornovitzky (Voids)
Note: This is the E Cast, which is the cast I saw. There is also an M cast. At the M cast, for example, Julia Motyka portrays Eve and Jeffrey Lyon portrays Man
Photography: Tom Kochie
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