Modern art, theater unite in “bobrauschenbergamerica”

Liza Darwin Guest Writer

What would the world look like through the eyes of modern artist Robert Rauschenberg? Philaletheis’ new play “bobrauschenbergamerica,” opening on Friday, Dec. 8, contains an assortment of vignettes presented in the sporadic style made famous by Rauschenberg, a forerunner of the Pop Art Movement in the 1960s. Rauschenberg’s distinctive style, in which he took seemingly random objects and assembled them into installation art, is the inspiration behind the play. Writer Charles L. Mee based the work on what would have happened if Robert Rauschenberg had written a play about America.

Director Diana Wright ’07 said she was introduced to “bobrauschenbergamerica” last year on domestic leave at the National Theater Institute in Waterford, Conn. “I didn’t get to direct the play when I was there, so I was so excited to be able to direct it back at Vassar,” she said. Wright was drawn to the work because of its unusual premise of uniting 43 short vignettes, which include the making of a human martini and a slideshow about Rauschenberg’s childhood, presented by his mother’s character.

“It’s basically a splattering of America. It’s not just one story, but follows lots of people and the events that happen to them,” said Wright.

Wright, though careful not to give too much of the plot away, noted that the audience will not be able to predict what will happen next in the story. “This play is different from others, because there is no real order to the scenes,” she said. Unlike most theatrical works, “bobrauschenbergamerica” does not follow a distinct and continuous storyline.

Nate Silver ’10, who plays Phil the Trucker in the play, said his experience acting in “bobrauschenbergamerica” has been a telling introduction to theater at Vassar. “This play is great for a place like Vassar, where we are encouraged to express ourselves individually like the characters in the play do, yet still have a distinct identity as a community,” he said.

Wright also appreciates how the play addressed the issue of what is considered art. “I thought it was interesting to take a look at the definition of art, and blurring the lines between what is art and what is not.”

Some people have a hard time appreciating modern art like Rauschenberg’s, Wright commented. One of Rauschenberg’s most famous pieces is a sculpture (“Monogram”) of a goat with a tire around its stomach, and he is widely regarded as a pioneer of modern art. The play reflects Rauschenberg’s idea that art is ubiquitous in everyday life.

The disconnect between the scenes presented special challenges for the actors. “Since there is nothing to connect from the last scene to the next one, there were lots of ‘OK, what comes next?’ moments for the actors,” said Wright.

The combination of scenes placed side by side present an important message about life as an American. “It really helps to raise some important and pertinent issues about our culture and helps to re-identify our identity as Americans,” said Silver.

“Bobrauschenbergamerica” has showings on Friday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Susan Stein Shiva Theater. Reservations are required.