BWW Reviews: You Don't Know Jack About JACK and CHANCE 11

As most of the Northeast is aware, if only for self preservation, Winter is almost here. As we count the lovely leaves of Fall drifting to the ground we pray that the impending snow and blistering cold is merciful and doesn't cripple our spirit. For me, this is roundabouts the time I seek hibernation. Honestly, the only time I venture outside is for food and toilet paper. For you, however, I made my way on one of the last gorgeous days of Fall to the JACK Theatre in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn to see Monstah Black: Cotton. JACK led by Artistic Director Alex Duffy, is on a mission to bring cutting edge theatre and education to the area. However, on a side street near the C train on 505 1/2 Waverly Ave, you could pass by without a second glance at the boarded up window and bountiful aluminum foil motif--which by the way was used as wall paper throughout the inside of the theatre. That along with the wash of reddish light from time to time, looked like the what I'd imagine the inside toaster would, with the added seating capacity of about forty people. The seating was simply padded chairs and though the show started late, I never felt uncomfortable. What was uncomfortable and distracting was the entrances of various late comers into the space. The entrance, located directly behind the well decorated space, allowed for light to shine through as guests were ushered to their seats.

As the the live performance piece began a man of small stature enters in an ornate costume speaking by way of his iPhone. This lithe gentleman, by the name of Reginald Ellis Crump, has been bringing his hyper-performative style to the New York for over a decade. Through this popular device held to his mouth, the Native Virginian gives us the his own personnel conversations to 'self'. Or maybe not, the speakers on the sides of his head were not loud enough for the audience to catch all the text. If this is the point where you think I will explain the meaning of or the intense impact of this visual, please stop reading...now. I do not know and with live performance thank God I don't have to puzzle my way around my mind and figure out every aspect. You can skip the next few paragraphs if your upset. After making his way onto the stage retiring his phone and turning on his laptop to play the accompanying music (which took more then a few moments) the room was filled music. He describes it as Badu meets Prince who meets Bjork, amoung others. It felt more like experimental Nina Simone with moments of electro pop and dance accentuated by exploratory physical movement. Throughout all of this images and video were being shown behind him on stage elaborately decorated with cotton balls.There were only fleeting moments where I could find parallels between the forms of art and it became a mild chore to decide what facet of the performance to give the most attention. There were so many moments where the content was resounding and the message would of been clear, if one wasn't distracted by one thing or another. His piece de resistance was him clothing himself in an 'underwear' dress, then robe speckled with cotton balls, and a large branch acting as a scepter. This is all topped off by the headphone-light-crown he donned throughout the play as he glided off the stage.

At his gestation Monstah Black: Cotton is part slam poet, part crooner, and part dreamer. If he could find a way to bring clarity to his vision I'd be in the front row. I could say the same of the JACK, but I'll add one thing: there is daring theatre here, bubbling to the surface.

After theatre I usually need food. So, I made my way to Chance Eleven (to the right), a few blocks down the street at 895 Fulton St. It calls itself a premiere lounge and grill and maybe it is, on some days. The day we walked in it was a sportsbar filled with rambunctious fellas yelling at the football games playing on any one of the large television screens. Albeit, the venue has a funky cool feel with splashes of color taking rein throughout. The couches were comfy, though they needed a serious scrub, and the people were chill. I would definitely return with a few friends...we would stand.

I'll be back with more and if you have a project, play, blah, that you are too lazy to visit (no judgement) send me a note. I'll check it out and report back. Monstah Black: Cotton is playing November 6th through the 9th. For more information on Jack Theatre's 2015 Season or Chance 11, please visit www.jackny.org or www.chance11.com respectively. (Photos Courtesy author and Chance 11).