New Futurist theater group debuts

Weintana Abraha Guest Writer

The long tradition of theater at Vassar is expanding with the addition of a new experimental group: the Unbound Futurist Troupe. Affiliated with the Unbound theater group, the Futurists bring a unique, progressive sensibility to the existing core of theater and comedy groups on campus.

Futurism is an Italian and Russian movement which was formed at the turn of the 20th century. It was created to revolutionize art, literature, cooking, music, and, of course, the theater. The 1907 essay “Entwurf einer neuen Ästhetik der Tonkunst” (“Sketch of a New Aesthetic of Music”) by the Italian composer Ferruccio Busoni is widely recognized as the catalyst for the movement.
Futurist plays are usually short, three-to-five minute pieces that are sensational, progressive and emphasize movement. Futurism makes use of speed and action, and puts forth the belief that truth can be achieved through these methods.

Although futurism has great appeal to the new troupe, the Unbound Futurists are not strictly bound to futurism’s typical doctrine. Traditional futurism (though perhaps a contradiction in terms) embodies technology and speed, but also rejects all traditions, theatrical and otherwise, sometimes fervently.

“We’re using the same material as futurism, but taking away a little of its shock theory and replacing it with an appreciation of the absurd,” said Unbound Futurists co-founder Rory Katz ’09.

“I felt that there is a lot of emphasis on finding the meaning of things in literature and theater and art, especially things without straightforward answers. I wanted to bring focus back to the pleasure of the images and sounds,” said Katz.

Katz and Marcus Liefert ’09 founded the Unbound Futurists this semester. Currently, Katz is creating and directing a show for a performance next semester, which is the only one planned for this year. Many of the pieces are adapted from selections from There’s a Little Ambiguity Over There Among the Bluebells and Other Theater Poems by Ruth Krauss. Krauss’s pieces range in subject matter from flowers to Tarzan.

Katz said she was drawn to the book’s absurdist poems as a mechanism for futurist ideas.

“It’s interesting because the pieces were written to be formed into plays, even though they’re not exactly straightforward,” said Katz.

The Unbound Futurists have a small, but loyal fan base on campus. In addition to the director, there is a hardworking cast of seven actors, a technology director, a stage manager, and several people on stage crew.

Katz said that currently there is “not a widespread interest, but those who have heard of it are really interested.”

Katz noted that futurist theater “breaks [its audience] out of their comfort zone.” She summed up its appeal for theater buffs and audiences alike. “What I like about futurism is that it seems not to make sense or say anything,” said Katz. “There are no expectations; you’re free to enjoy the spectacle.”