Vonda de Ville in Temporal Follies

I was given a sneak–peak last night of Lukas Pearse’s electropera Vonda de Ville in Temporal Follies, and while director Marty Burt was anxious to point out that what I saw was not the polished product that will open Wednesday, he need not have worried. Once Janice Jackson stepped on to the stage it was easy to ignore the unwashed floors and slight imperfections and to be carried away by vaudeville singer de Ville’s trippy journey through space and time in search of her voice which has been captured by technology. Jackson’s powerful voice and physical presence (bedecked in Arianne Pollet-Brannen’s fascinating multi-layered costumes) are commanding, and Pearse’s musical creations are weird, wonderful and haunting. Don’t go expecting a simple narrative. Just take the plunge into the rabbit hole and then sit back and let the sights and sounds amaze you. –Kate Watson