Next week, New York choreographer David Gordon — one of the founding members of the Judson Dance Theater and still the most trenchant wit and critical thinker around — premieres a new version of “Uncivil Wars: Moving with Brecht & Eisler.”
A re-imagining of German dramatist Bertolt Brecht and composer Hanns Eisler’s pre-war parable “Roundheads and Pointheads,” the work’s performers include nationally acclaimed performance artist John Kelly and the esteemed actress/dancer Valda Setterfield (Gordon’s spouse), along with performers from the University of Minnesota and local volunteers. I’ll have a full post next week on the event at the Walker Art Center.
This Saturday night (March 7), however, is a rare opportunity to hear from Gordon himself. He’ll discuss the making of “Uncivil Wars,” his interest in Brecht, and the cultural and political relevance of “Roundheads and Pointheads” — as well as his own pioneering brand of dance/theater — with Michael Lupu, a senior dramaturg at the Guthrie Theater.
Talking points might include: Brecht’s liberal borrowing of intellectual property from Shakespeare; the setting of Brecht’s play, a fictitious country called Yahoo, which Gordon describes as having “a big deficit and an overproduction of corn” that could be “resolved” through war; and immigration issues between the native-born Roundheads and newbie Pointheads. Sound familiar?
“Talking Dance with Michael Lupu and David Gordon: Collaborating with Bertolt Brecht.” 7 p.m. Saturday (March 7), The Lab Theater, 700 N. First St., Minneapolis, ($5-$8); for tickets, call 612-375-7600 or go here.