John Maria Gutierrez, photography by Maria Baranova

What if we were able to get off of this disappointing ride of White Supremacist American Capitalist Patriarchical Heteronormative Psychotic Savagery from hell? (hades? The sunken place?) 

The interdisciplinary work “Aristotle Thinks Again” is a thought-provoking masterpiece written by Chuck Mee, directed and choreographed by Dan Safer, and co-created and choreographed by the immensely talented members of Great Jones Repertory, maura nguyễn donohue, John Maria Gutierrez, Valois Mickens, Kim Savarino, and former Dance Theatre of Harlem dancer Marcus McGregor, that posits such an inquiry. It presents a powerful hypothetical scenario where the end of the world does not mean the end of life on Earth. The audience is encouraged to ponder over which three things they would take with them if faced with such a situation and which one thing they would be willing to leave behind. It is a reminder that even in the most dire circumstances, we have the power to choose what is truly important to us.

So let’s play!

Imagine IF the world as we know it were to end, BUT life on Earth would somehow continue; WHAT three things would you take with you, and what one thing would you leave behind?

I’ll wait…………………………………………..

Oooh, pick me!

I’d take:

1. The Arts
2. The barefoot pitter-pat of young children on hardwood floors
3. Warm apple pie a la mode (without caramel, please)

I’d leave: 

1. Racism/White Supremacy

The premises of “Aristotle Thinks Again” are imagination and world-making— a recognition of what is, a departure from that, [re]visioning, and movement towards actualizing a conjectural new reality. So let us examine this in sections:

Section 1: THE CIVILIZED

The retelling of tales has allowed us in the Western world to inherit the mythos and barbarism of the Greco-Roman civilization. Through “Aristotle Thinks Again,” we are introduced to The House of Atreus, with Valois Mickens as our oracle, guiding us through everything that is going to happen. The four muses in white – donohue, Maria Gutierrez, Savarino, and McGregor – show us how to move forward.

Valois Mickens, photography by Maria Baranova

I hear maura’s voice saying, “fuck Chronos!”

The richness of understanding in “Aristotle Thinks Again” lies in the intertextual connections between the various parts of the work. “We,” the audience, are placed in front of a defaced classical occidental society, the West. But defaced in the way people draw lewd pictures in the bathroom stall (boobies, penises, etc.) used to de-legitimize our enemies (a kind of modern warfare), a rejection of Western society and its ideals. Because of the multilayered storytelling in the work, we have to reject an easy-to-understand linear format (Chronos). The intertext of all the parts is where the riches of understanding lie.

photography by Maria Baranova

Section 2:  SUIT ON THE CHIMP.

~ towards liberty, equality, and prosperity, huh? 

~ How’s that going?

Subscribing to Western society has meant subscribing to the power of capitalism and joining the collectivized effort towards liberty (m o n e y) in the new republic while wearing the metaphorical mask of the Patria…rchy — A mask that doesn’t fit everyone’s face, as John Maria Gutierrez demonstrates. With virtuosity, his character illuminates that behind the occidental mask of the republic, the false liberty that comes with winning-at-capitalism is the repressed humanity that merely wants to be immersed in the depths of love and acceptance from another… for the other. Maria Gutierrez’s performance asks us to live, to imagine the experience of removing our masks.

photography by Maria Baranova

photography by Maria Baranova

….S C U M M A N I F E S T O….

minus the transphobia

Section 3: PSYLOCIBIN!

During the load-in for the show at La MaMa’s Downstairs Theater, I had the pleasure of chatting with maura nguyễn donohue – a company member, former professor, dance and performance studies expert, and dear friend. maura shared their thoughts on the performance and dance studies, highlighting how the performers are tackling the challenges of being human. They emphasized the importance of considering what we should leave behind and what we should bring with us into a new world. The performance celebrates the potential for humans to rise above their current structures and care for each other with greater compassion. However, this shift towards caring would require us to imagine a world beyond our current societal structures and even the earth itself, necessitating a new substrate for… “P S Y L O C I B I N!”  Both deeply heartfelt and comedic at times, donohue’s dynamic performance dove deep into our emotional depths while brimming with levity and vitality.

Section 4: Sober(ing) / “I Lost my Virginity at Shen Yun”

photography by Maria Baranova

maura gets the axe.

Pop some popcorn. This is going to be good.

Sympathy. Understanding. 

Oh shit, homeboy gets the axe!

photography by maria baranova

“Aristotle Thinks Again” is a testament to the power of perseverance and collaboration. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the project evolved through hybrid modes, with artists connecting from various locations. The team worked tirelessly to develop the material, using rigorous physical choreography and artificial intelligence-assisted design to create a jocular and poignant work. This project is a testament to the value of in-person gatherings in a society where we are rapidly retreating from one another. It reminds us that by building many pathways to the future, we can overcome the historical origins of our current troubles. This collaboration between two resident companies of La MaMa, Witness Relocation/Dan Safer and Great Jones Rep Co, has brought together a team with a shared history, resulting in a truly inspiring production.

photography by Maria Baranova