2nd Cafe

Sunny Bartee
Jen Bloom
Theatre Observation 2
Question: Did the director and designers produce a conventional performance or reconceptualize the material in some way? Were they successful in interpreting it? Why and how?
On January 22, 2016, I was able to see The Cafe performance. This performance
consisted of unique poetry, lyrics, and music. The director made sure to set the order of
performers in a comfortable format. Granting the audience a smooth introduction of songs than
hitting us with appropriate poetry from a diverse speaker. There were moments were the director
chose to experiment with the lighting giving us the illusion of dancing angels behind one
performer who sung about Demons being cast down. This became a little repetitive, but it
worked because it kept my focus and allowed me to imagine my own song.
Within the dancing elements, I was able to pay close attention to the dancer. She was
very particular about bringing more than just texture to the performance. Every aspect of the
lights gave her ballet an effect. For example, theres a moment were shes in mid center of the
floor and a circular light appears showcasing her posture and angles. This caused us to stare in
awe as a dancer has never truly graced the stage of a Cafe Performance. Seeing this new trend
gave room for more open opportunities and thoughts. The director was able to capture our
expectations by being different with the casting and alluring a concept were not use to. It gave
the idea that this could possibly be a reoccurring thing.
Most of the poems penetrated my mental due to personal growth within the art. The
interpretation was a success only because they allowed us to capture their vulnerability
within our own grasp. Giving us the chance to feel we were included in the story as well. The
young man explaining the hardship of being in a gang while running the unruly streets of

Chicago had to be the most dominant regarding his material. The director took this stand point to
open up the poem with gun shots, yet stillness over layered the performer. That for me was
powerful and consisted of surprise.

In Conclusion, the prominent interaction with the audience made the show more filtered and
alive. Giving the environment a better knowl