This past weekend I went to Philadelphia for Gunnar Montana’s latest immersive theatrical experience, BLACKWOOD.
This piece was different from Montana’s past work like Kink Haüs, Motel Montana, and last year’s Bath Haus. Blackwood lacks the tongue-in-cheek humor and campiness inherent in those other pieces.
Blackwood is serious, dark, spooky, aggressive and, at times, disturbing. Montana himself appears in only one section of the show as an abusive husband. The scene was particularly graphic in its depiction of domestic violence. There are trigger warnings, in the digital program and posted around the performance space. The coven of witches at the heart of this piece do get their revenge, though.
As in all Gunnar’s projects - the piece is well designed, choreographed, and performed by an expert troupe of performers/dancers and burlesque artists. There is some thrilling work on display here. The space (in Philly’s Latvian Society building) is eerily transformed into a dark wilderness.
The piece lasts 50 minutes and the cast is comprised of eight performers, including Montana and the always wonderful Frank Leone. The characters portrayed by Montana and Leone are no match for the six powerful witches.
I enjoyed the piece less than his previous works, but that’s just personal preference due to the subject matter. The quality of this piece is absolutely on par with his past work. Gunnar Montana is a gifted theater artist and a uniquely creative mind. He hasn’t brought his work to NY since he brought Kink Haus in 2018 to La Mama’s experimental theater space.
I hope he comes back to NY soon, and I look forward to whatever he does next. |
