All Aboard the Brain Train: a response by Tuli Bera
image by Sarah Elizabeth Larson
Right Here
Premiere: Links Hall - Chicago, IL May 2024
Concept + Direction: Melinda Jean Myers
Presenter: Lucky Plush Productions
Composer + Musician: Lex Leto
Devised in Collaboration + Performance: Kara Brody, Kim Goldman, Isabella Limosnero, Jacinda Ratcliffe, Melinda Jean Myers, Meghann Wilkinson
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For this response to Lucky Plush’s Right Here, you will find short journal entries over two weeks from the first moment I experienced this work:
Witness to a rehearsal: April 24th, 2024
“Speaking on the past can have a different feeling,” said Melinda. This was one of the first things I heard as I walked into the Lucky Plush rehearsal.
Artists, Kara Brody, Kim Goldman, Isabella Limosnero, and Jacinda Ratcliffe were lined up single-file for a section, which I’ll name the “brain-train” (for my remembering purposes), occasionally connected with a hand on a shoulder with Ratcliffe at the top. Brody, Limosnero, and Goldman sequentially spoke out seemingly random thoughts as Ratcliffe inaudibly embodied/expressed in real time. The line of four moved through space with elements of push and pull, aimless wandering, and eventually split off into separate groups. I felt as though I was a witness to a thought bubble. It was a visualization of an assortment of the types of thoughts one can have: wandering thoughts, opposing thoughts, random thoughts that purposefully distract, hype-yourself-up thoughts, and why-am-I-thinking-about-this-right-now thoughts.
The next portion of rehearsal was more movement-centered. As artists did their oh-so-familiar “mark-through” of choreography, I thought, what would “marking through” our thoughts look like.. Perhaps it’s a soft reflection where you don’t linger too long? Damn, getting pretty cerebral– let’s stop there. Food for thought!
I witnessed a very playful duet between Melinda Myers and Jacinda Ratcliffe turn into a trio with Isabella Limonsnero. I consider myself a rehearsal nerd and find immense satisfaction in witnessing people work things out together. The trio materialized within minutes! Movement artists never cease to amaze me– we are constantly tuning in and making both literal space and emotional space for one another.
Very excited to return for the performance!
Opening Night: May 3, 2024
It’s been a minute since I’ve written about live performance… start by writing what you remember, don’t stop writing:
As we entered Links Hall’s white box, we were greeted by artists activating the space through very human movement and at times acknowledging familiar faces, friends, and loved ones with a bright smile and inaudible hi! The warm and fuzzies were instantly activated as I eased into my seat and tuned in to Lex Leto’s immersive soundscape.
Costumes! Bright! Giving both a cautionary warning like poisonous tree frogs and the whimsy of Lisa Frank stickers. Humans can be cute but beware– we are a dangerous species.
There was a second reversed “brain train” moment with Meghann Wilkinson at the top of the line stating with uncertain gusto, “I’m going to start today.” Her gaze sought to connect with us while the rest of the ensemble’s embodied movement of Wilkinson’s soliloquy rippled down the line. Over time, the line broke off and Meghann was left standing alone. Fading thoughts, disjointed thinking, attempts to compartmentalize.
image by Sarah Elizabeth Larson
A delightfully awkward dance party– A world in which we never side-eye and judge each other– we only live to hype one another up. A brilliant use of headlamps symbolizes the brightest and best ideas. To then be over-crowded and overwhelmed by having too many. Kim Goldman’s moment showed the realities of decision fatigue and paralysis.
“It's about you, it’s about me, it's about us. It’s not about me. It’s about you. It’s about them. It’s about us.” The last moments of the performance. A staggered chorus turns into a unified mantra led by 7 voices. Thinking about how these words can hold such different meanings/feelings based on who you are and how you make sense of your environment.
A rich, reflective evening. Very full.
May 11th:
Yesterday, I was in a brain world of unmotivated, ambivalent about the state of the world, and apathetic- pinballing my way through these three states. I cycled through periods of sitting and standing up to sit again with many sessions of mobile doom-scrolling. It wasn’t until I received a “want to hang out?” text from a loved one that I felt a ping of excitement and motivation to connect.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
I am reminded of Kara Brody’s “Stuck” soliloquy accompanied by the members of the ensemble- an uncomfortably relatable scene with an important reminder that we are always a work in progress. It begs me to ask myself (and others):
How do we hype ourselves up? How do we take pride in what we do? Do I believe in myself? Did I give myself the time to listen to my needs?
I am always curious about how we speak to ourselves– the internal conversation.
May 17th: post performance
As I visualize my memories of the performance, I see the expressive faces of all the ensemble members and washes of feel-good, playful choreography. It’s the feelings I had during and post-performance that have stayed with me. I remember so many moments where I laughed and uncomfortably smiled because of how many moments resonated with me. It was also a serious reminder that as humans with incredible amounts of thought power, we have a great responsibility. It’s thrilling to dream and solutionize, yet how is it coming into action or worse, inaction?
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Tuli Bera (she/they) is a curious Bengali-American movement artist and educator. https://www.tuli.space/