Bathroom Follies

Posted 03.09.2007 by Jamie Benson (15)

Editor's note: a few weeks ago, I wrote about a performance out in LA that actually made me want to visit that city: the world premiere of Bathroom Follies, by Choreographer Jamie Benson and fashion designer Andrae Gonzalo. The performance, Benson tells me, was a great success. He's written in to share the experience with the one group of people he knows will appreciate it: PoopReporters.

Dear PoopReporters,

On February 16th and 17th, the Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica premiered Bathroom Follies. Bathroom Follies is a dance work that exploits the inherent relationship of dance and fashion to explore the dynamics of public vulnerability. Early notions for Bathroom Follies arose from our shared experiences serving LA's cultural elite in the Founders Room of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, as well as the aftermath of Andrae's Emmy-nominated breakdown on Project Runway. After witnessing the pomposity of the distracted masses, we felt that people could use another reminder of our basic humanity.

Humanity is inescapable in the bathroom.

For this dance work, we collectively investigated scenarios that dramatized the common human realities confronted within the facilities. Inspired by this goal, the fashion/costumes for the piece are intended to be clothes that tell a more experiential story than those in an ordinary fashion show. My choreography incorporates jazz, modern dance, and ballet in order to access the varied spectrum of human dynamics found in this unorthodox setting.

The final result is a series of six dance sequences that dissect the social and psychological dimensions of human activities, in front of the bathroom sink or within toilet stalls.

Each of these pieces focuses on the public performances that occur the moment we expose our human intimacies to the florescent gaze of the john. Whether transformed by the anxiety of pending urine test results, or the vexing pretense of female social politics, or even the simple pleasures of an illicit blowjob, the bathroom still remains the quintessential "room of rest," and the repository of those experiences that unite us all as human beings.

We plan to expand and clarify on these issues with our future work and a potential revival of the original spectacle.

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DungDaddy (1386) -- 03.09.2007

Is this paid for by the National Endowment for the Arts?

CC (not verified) -- 03.09.2007

You won't see that on Dancing With The Stars.I wonder if the performance got shitty reviews.

Bilgepump (1732) -- 03.09.2007

After watching that, I'm reasonably convinced that the sugar plum fairies dancing in my head have been replaced.

Toots N. McCrack (160) -- 03.09.2007

Ha! I am SO sending this link to my friend who studied ballet and dances brilliantly (and shares an appreciation of bathroom humor!) And on her birthday no less!

An interesting piece(-of-shit)--boldly in public and quite, uh, moving.

_______
'Hey that sounds pretty nasty, how about a courtesy flush over there?' (AP1)

daphne (3667) -- 03.10.2007

The menacing turd wasn't half as unsettling as that guy in the red tights. He's scary.

One of Mr. daphne's workmates is a captain in the US army, and he's a bit of a self=important little guy. He looks exactly like the dude in the red tights but with hair. Because of this, I'm even more freaked out. The next time I see him, I'll be wondering if he's got red pantyhose on under his ACU's.

_______
.....hugging bunnies since 1969
www.daphneszoo.com

Anonymous Scheisser (not verified) -- 03.10.2007

Very interesting and a totally different concept. I would love to see this performance in person.

The Big Wiper (2245) -- 03.11.2007

The guy in the red tights looks like somebody Flip Wilson as Geraldine Jones might have invented. As in, "The Devil made me do it!"

Pulling My Pants Down For Peace, Plop and Posterity!

Toots N. McCrack (160) -- 03.12.2007

As promised, I sent this link (with my breath held) to my dancing friend. My first clue to those around me about my own "outing" as a PR participator.

She said that she was impressed that the ballerina "knew what she was doing" and she "could tell when people are faking it", and this one wasn't. So yeah, I can say, great performance piece.

Although we agreed that we weren't exactly sure what was going on in the video, the visuals were quite, uh, stimulating.

On a happy note, my friend and her fiance were NOT shocked and horrified that I participate on PR and got a kick out of it! :):) Big sigh of relief! I knew if they read the comments, they would know in a second it was me (and they did). I know that probably doesn't mean much to others, but coming out and being accepted feels like a big deal, no matter what it is, yeah?

_______
'Hey that sounds pretty nasty, how about a courtesy flush over there?' (AP1)

daphne (3667) -- 03.12.2007

I have never been in the PR closet, and only a few people have tried to make fun of me about it when they find out I'm an uberpooper. That's because I first always ask them if they have a story where they almost didn't make it to the toilet or actually DIDN'T make it. And funny, wouldn't you know, everyone has one of those stories?

So, I'm glad your friends are non-judgemental.

_______
.....hugging bunnies since 1969
www.daphneszoo.com

GranniePanties (18) -- 03.12.2007

Err. Just.. why?

Jamie Benson (15) -- 03.13.2007

shit...for the sake of shaking things up. Performance is often produced either to simply make money or satiate the ego of the performance maker. One of the defining observations of this site you're on is the oddly secretive nature of our common human functions. Can't hide this one!!! hell- that shit is funny too- c'mon. The healing power of...shit...shit

The Big Wiper (2245) -- 03.13.2007

A serious question for you, Jamie. How would you differentiate what you do from performance art? Do you see elements of both in your work?

Inquiring behinds want to know.

Pulling My Pants Down For Peace, Plop and Posterity!

Fart Poopie (1257) -- 03.14.2007

So... how does jumping up onto a giant turd and wrapping your legs around it make it go away? There has to be a less messy way to kill a poo monster.

It looks like an interesting show. I can see myself going to it if it were here.

The Dumpster (2506) -- 03.14.2007

This was so funny, it made me piss in my leotards.

GottaGoGirl (2616) -- 03.15.2007

I knew it.

Jamie Benson (15) -- 03.15.2007

Mr./Ms. Wiper- of the Big Wipers, it's a matter of splitting ass hairs, such as life, but performance art is usually known as an unconventional and improvisational thing with a very small audience and performed in a non-theater setting...My schtuff is more fleshed out, orchestrated. It's hard to tell from this theater caricature (Bowel Movement) but my work is usually more cerebral- even if it happens to be bawdy, brazen. I thought this piece was the most appropiate for the Poopsters.

Mr./Ms. Poopie- of the Fart Poopies, what fun is killing a poo monster without getting messy. Great comments guys.

A fart, smooch, and a wink- j

The Big Wiper (2245) -- 03.15.2007

Jamie: you handled the Q & A very well. Kudos! BTW, I'm a guy, but I appreciate the fact that you can't make any assumptions about gender based on handles used on this site.

Pulling My Pants Down For Peace, Plop and Posterity!

Jamie Benson (15) -- 03.17.2007

Does anyone even eat corn anymore...curious?

Bilgepump (1732) -- 03.17.2007

Just the blue corn

Jamie Benson (15) -- 03.17.2007

dito...as in chips. Anyone else?

GottaGoGirl (2616) -- 03.18.2007

Heck, yeah! We buy fresh corn on the cobb all summer and cook it on the grill. Yum!

The Big Wiper (2245) -- 03.18.2007

Poem:

The corn is blue,
And I'm a-maized;
This much is true,
My poop is crazed.
I think I like the yellow more,
For that's the hallowed norm;
When blue-studded poop is what's in store,
Methinks it's alien corn.

Pulling My Pants Down For Peace, Plop and Posterity!

Fart Poopie (1257) -- 03.18.2007

It's Ms. Poopie, :-)
and heck yes! We love corn here.

Jamie Benson (15) -- 03.18.2007

grilled...damn, that does sound good.