Jerome Bel’s Disabled Theater was an extremely powerful and moving performance that uniquely involved self-pronounced actors who all had a mental deficiency. These disabilities ranged from a learning disability to trisomy 21, or down syndrome. Aside from the obvious controversy this piece would promote, Disabled Theater also tugged at the heartstrings with it’s extremely quirky cast and emotional stories. Through the power of dance, these “actors” lost all inhibitions and “acted like myself” as one of the dancers put it.
The piece was centered around a competitive platform with the translator prefacing that only 7 of the 10 performances were picked by Jerome Bel. I really enjoyed this part of the performance because it treats these performers like one would treat any performer: without discrimination. I’ve heard many times from those with mental disabilities that one of their main desires is that people stop pitying them because they cannot learn to live with their disability if everyone else reminds them of it constantly. This very human quality of the piece made the performances both more interesting and emotional. It also gives the performers a goal to work towards instead of just telling them to do whatever they want. This structure allowed for the performance to be very clean and overall enjoyable.
The piece was also very emotionally charged. Preceding the performances was a half-hour introduction of the performers, allowing us to hear their voices as they told us their profession and their disability. Additionally, every performance was so heartfelt that the audience could sense the hard work and enjoyment seeping through the music and the dances. As someone was performing, the emotion of their piece melded very well with the disposition of the other performers as they moved to the music, often singing the words or even fooling around with each other. This piece had just enough structure to allow for the actors to look unscripted. It also added to the piece, making it look very natural and fun. Throughout all the performances, I was smiling non-stop at the effort I saw being displayed on stage as well as the enjoyment on the faces of the performers, regardless of whether or not they were the center stage or waiting in the background. This was definitely one of the most enjoyable elements of the piece and also a factor in it’s individuality.
When speaking about emotion, one cannot help but thing about the effects of this piece on the performers and how they will live after their tour is over. As adults with mental disabilities, they require assistance with many everyday tasks. Their guardians still take care of them, and many of the performers have stated how unenjoyable they can be to their parents. Herein lies the question of whether or not Jerome Bel should keep in touch with these performers after the shows or if he should treat them like any other performer and left them move on with their lives. One might think that if he goes with the latter, he was only using these performers to bring attention to his piece, and subsequently himself as well. However, if adhering to the idea that the mentally disadvantaged want to be treated without pity, one might think the former is a good idea. Personally, I would want Jerome to keep in touch with them and possibly include them in another piece. Seeing their enjoyment as they were on stage was very heartwarming for me and invigorating for them. I’d hope that they continue honing their talent.
When one thinks of people with a mental disability, the image of a mostly incapacitated person comes to mind. Disabled Theater challenges this idea, providing a platform for 10 very talented but disabled adults to vent their feelings in a fun and creative manner. If this show was shown again, I would very much consider watching it again. It is possibly my favorite show this year, only rivaled by Two Boys.
-Stanley Chen (Blog A)
