Review - Pasatiempo June 11 - 17, 2004

Robert Nott wrote in The Santa Fe New Mexican - Pasatiempo June 11 - 17, 2004
Photos by Raul Vasquez

Danielle Reddick had a lock out of place, but you can get away with that sort of thing when you're taking part in the Hat.

Danielle raddick, actor and host of the Hat

Danielle raddick, actor and host of the Hat

The lock in question belonged to Reddick's head of hair. The Hat, however, is a monthly improvisational event in which writers, artists, actors, singers, dancers, poets, rappers, impressionists and hams of all types combine forces onstage to create what host Reddick calls "spontaneous Theater."

The result may be something imperfect, but because it's a continual work in progress, nobody really complains. "It really is a one-of-a-kind experience," said Reddick, who jump-starts the high jinks by drawing participants' names out of a hat (hence the title of the event). "It's about communication, and that's why it's important and edgy and fun. And it's open to everybody."

The Hat takes place the third Thursday of every month at the Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA). It was launched a year ago by artist-musicians Chris Jonas and Molly Sturges, who have since left Santa Fe. The Hat survived, despite a dearth of publicity and the occasional cancellation. Reddick, who said she participated from the beginning, assumed hosting chores earlier this year. She's missed only one night, when an Elvis impersonator took over - an evening some of the regular participants recall being a bit madcap.

Performers show up at 6:30p.m. to put their names on slips of paper that go into a hat. Reddick then presents the rules of the game, which is pretty easy to do because there really aren't any rules. The event is about group interaction, she stresses, and the ensemble is paramount. There should be no fear of mistakes, and it doesn't matter if a musician ends up with an actor or a contortionist. Something will come out of it no matter how you look at it.

The Hat performance in May were a mixed bag. Among the roughly 20 performers who showed up were comedian-actor barbara Mayfeild and musician jack Fishman. The two were thrown together, along with Alia Munn-Polonsky (who for some inexplicable reason wanted to be known as Juilet simon), for the first improvisational gig. As Munn-polonsky began dancing and Fishman began wailing on a sax, Mayfield took the microphone and said, "I don't move, and I don't bring an instrument, so let's just chat. it was a funny moment in an incoherent but amusing bit.

Reddick, who throws her own name into the hat, next popped up to play off a former punk rocker who was ranting about politics, football and the hanging of meat. Reddick responded to the woman's monologue by paging through a magazine in search of ads that would apply to the poor woman's story. The bit may have been disjointed, but it was also wonderfully unpredictable and quite funny.

The next bit involved three participants and included an interpretive dance that was probably unlike any dance ever done. Eventually the piece segued into a monologue about Jack Ruby. Obviously the participants were working within the moment, even if the moment was undefined.

Some scenes had punch lines without setups. Some had setups without punch lines. At times, more was definitely more, as when three seemingly proper young ladies took the stage to state that they were looking for a strapping young man. Soon enough, said candidate showed up Marika Reinhold, left, and Bill Clemont

bearing a strap, with which he proceeded to bind one woman's hands and feet. Reddick didn't have a hook, but she did throw this scene a line in an effort to pull the participants offstage. The taut rope simply inspired one performer to do the limbo.

But the Hat is not about right or wrong, or good or bad. The Hat is theatrical artistry at is rawest. And at its best, it ws just beautiful, as when Reddick joined Fishman, musician-actor Andy Kirkpatrick and dancer Marika Reinhold to create an impromptu musical paean to "today." It was as if the night were making noise and nobody knew what the hell it meant -- but everyone understood that it was something important.

While CCA soon plans to turn the black-box performance space into a gallery, Reddick said, the arts organization is committed to keeping the Hat going, even if it means moving it outside or onto the roof. She hopes more artists show up to participate or watch. Admission and participation are by donation (which goes into a hat, of course).

For some of the artists, the Hat offers the chance to create performance art on the spot, without preparation or pretension. "This reflects the living present," said Munn-Polonsky. "It's the only thing I have seen around here that forces people to stand in the moment and contribute something that people can bear witness to."