The real surprise of of TJ Dawe’s and Rita Bozi’s 52 Pick-Up is how well the premise works out in practice. 4 actors, 2 couples, 52 predetermined scenes performed at random. Each card in the deck has a scene attached, and they are tossed in the air. Each performer takes a card from the floor, reads the prompt aloud (Do you like it? What are you thinking? I didn’t say that.) the lights go down, then up. The sequence commences. Some scenes are longer than others. Some quite brief. They are ironic or melancholy or sweet or angry.
Whether 52 Pick Up involves true spontaneity, or the mere illusion, it’s hard not to expect something cursory or cavalier. The tone, the depth of feeling, the way each scene fell into place, the impression that the various scenes are happening within a larger context, all quickly disabuse us of this notion. Almost as if we wouldn’t know the sequence was random if we weren’t told. The characters are the same even though they and we don’t know what’s coming next. In some ways 52 Pick-Up reminded me of Constellations, a show in which a man and woman appear to be repeating particular exchanges, with slight variations. While parallel universes were mentioned in The Talk Back, I preferred the idea that timing could affect the outcome of any event, large or small. That many results are possible depending on forces beyond our control. Tides, planets, clocks, moods, movement, impulse. Such is what Dawe and Bozi approach through this simple, brilliant concept. Though this show takes careful steps to remind us that each scene is autonomous (with a definite beginning and end) the narrative doesn’t feel disjointed. It doesn’t play like pastiche.
Director Stefany Cambra and her cast (Robin Clayton, Andrew Manning, Caitlin Galloway and Madeleine Morris) have handled this daunting adventure with great focus and finesse. The show runs 65 minutes but it never feels frantic or rushed. We feel as if we are watching a very detailed, pensive portrait take shape before our eyes; depicting the nature of attachment, estrangement, contentment, grief. It’s strangely exhilarating to feel a project so seemingly counter-intuitive, take hold of our hearts and imagination. The mind boggles when we consider what rehearsals must have been like. 52 Pick Up was a splendid excursion into the timeless and endlessly intoxicating world of broken, irresistible humanity.
I attended 52 Pick Up on closing weekend. Many thanks to Proper hijinx Productions for letting me attend.
52 Pick Up was performed at Dance Xpress, 4320 Marsh Ridge Rd Ste 130, Carrollton, Texas 75010. (972) 939-7200. properhijinx.com