The Wooster Group is an avant-garde theatre group in New York.
"For more than thirty years, The Wooster Group has cultivated new forms and techniques of theatrical expression reflective of and responsive to our evolving culture, while sustaining a consistent ensemble and maintaining a flexible repertory. Wooster Group theatre pieces are constructed as assemblages of juxtaposed elements: radical staging of both modern and classic texts, found materials, films and videos, dance and movement, multi-track scoring, and an architectonic approach to theatre design" (thewoostergroup.org).
They perform all around the globe, but call home in a warehouse on Wooster Street in NY called The Performing Garage. They have done such works as HAMLET, VIEUX CARRE, and LA DIDONE. However, some of their most interesting works have grown out of found texts. For instance, the original work, NORTH ATLANTIC by James Strahs in 1982 was made specifically for The Wooster Group. The company has remounted the show in 1984, 1999, and 2009-2010.
NORTH ATLANTIC was presented in Los Angeles Feb. 10th - 21st, 2010. I was fortunate enough to finally be able to see this New York-based company. After having written numerous papers on them (as they are the foremost multimedia theatre company, a particular interest of mine) and ravaging their youtube channel, it was amazing to see them live. The show was at REDCAT theatre which is part of the Disney/CalArts Theatre in downtown LA.
The show had Oscar winner Frances McDormand (FARGO, MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY, BURN AFTER READING) leading the ensemble cast. The show's promotional material describes it as taking "a satiric look at the role of the military and the growing influence of technology in American culture during the late Cold War period. Following an international peacekeeping force on an aircraft carrier in the North Atlantic during a top-secret mission, this nostalgia piece brings the analog (pre-digital) 1980s to life through slang, song, and dance."
The nostalgia was totally present in this hip ensemble show. The set was absolutely incredible (designed by Jim Clayburgh). There was a small playing space in the down stage plane of the proscenium stage, and then there was a railing running from stage left to right upstage of the empty plane. Just upstage of this railing was a platform that ran the width of the stage but could only have been a foot or so in width itself. Then just upstage of that was a raked platform on hydraulics. The pitch of this changed during the course of the show. This allowed for a somewhat level playing space along with a steep platform that the characters could either slide down or else climb up with ropes that suddenly appeared from no where. It was so incredibly versatile and exactly what the show required.
I would highly recommend the group to anyone who wants to see some unusual theatre. Bear in mind that their style is not linear. Though it certainly doesn't fit the traditional view on what theatre is and what theatre can be, it is certainly a valid choice.
The show was incredible. Though it is the type of show that leaves you wondering what the hell you've just seen.
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