Sweet Child of Mine
Created by Bron Batten
at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland (map)
thru Sept 21 | tickets: $20 | more info
Check for half-price tickets
[Read review]
An enlightened ode to the act of creation
The Neo-Futurists i/a/w The Last Tuesday Society presents
Sweet Child of Mine
Review by Clint May
If, like me, you made a career choice in a field your parents never quite understood, you’ll relate to this endearing performance piece. As an ode to the act of creation and commentary on the often overly-esoteric nature of performance art, Sweet Child of Mine is also a lovely valentine to the relationship parents have to their black sheep children. The Neo-Futurists’ have teamed up with Australian artist Bron Batten to bring her 2011 award-winning work to Chicago for its only stateside appearance. It’s a real artist’s artist piece that remains immediate and accessible through its universal themes and emotional honesty.
What follows is a sort of continuation of dance. Bron reenacts one of her earlier pieces (a beaver, an aborted chicken), or interacts with the audience, followed by more video projection of that original interview. Her father comes out at regular intervals to answer questions about anything with bracing honesty and to talk about what he’s learned about art and Bron as the piece has continued to evolve. He is still critical of art that creates a bald spot in the back of your head from all the scratching one is likely to do while viewing it. Despite that, he and wife/mother Linda support Bron, attending what performances she lets them know about and giving financial aid outside the government’s Centrelink support. As one of five, Bron is decidedly the most challenging child from a career choice viewpoint.
This is a short work, so I must resist the temptation to speak more about what surprises she has in store for you. Given the philosophical match-up between the Neo-Futurists and Bron (mentioned in Artistic Director’s Bilal Dardai and Megan Mercier’s notes), it’s a wonder she doesn’t make the move to the States to become a regular cast member. She has the sort of fearlessness and magnetism that makes most any show at the Neo-Futurarium just downright entertaining no matter its agenda. Still, her natural allure as a performer shouldn’t unduly overshadow her larger statement about relationships, both between parents/children and audience/art. Anyone who’s ever had to strive to understand their child, to be understood by their parents, or to figure out what in the heck that piece at the MCA is supposed to mean will come away from Sweet Child with a bit more enlightenment on the struggles endured by all parties involved, and most importantly, why we embrace them.
Rating: ★★★
Sweet Child of Mine continues through September 21st at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland (map), with performances Thursdays thru Saturdays at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20 (students and seniors: $10), and are available by phone (773-878-4557) or online through their website (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at neofuturists.org. (Running time: 75 minutes, NO intermission)
Photos by Max Milne Photography
artists
cast
Bron Batten, Jim Batten, Linda Batten
behind the scenes
Bron Batten (creator), Glen Walton (technical operator, advisor), Maggie Fullilove-Nugent (production manager), Gerard McCulloch (outside eye), Edward Gould (composer), Max Milne Photography (photos)
13-0911
