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“We do not know what the dragon means, just as we do not know the meaning of the universe, but there is something in the image of the dragon that is congenial to man’s imagination, and thus the dragon arises in many latitudes and ages. Â It is, one might say, a necessary monster, not some ephemeral and casual creature like the chimaera or the catoblepas.” Â Â âJorge Luis Borges, The Book of Imaginary Beings
Trying to get a handle on a John Kuntz play can often feel like grasping at smoke. Just when you think you have a good firm grip, the rules change ever so slightly, and youâre left dealing with a surprising wrinkle. The result is a giddy, exhilarating, and madcap trip through different layers of reality, where ideas and themes sneak up in your peripheral vision only to slip away when you turn your head to look.
To facilitate the collaborative, free-roaming, and adventurous process that director David R. Gammons led during rehearsals, SpeakEasyâs production team came at the script from a number of different angles, from imagery and thematic work, to approximated maps of the different levels of reality the play occupies. What follows is a small sample of the raw materials that went into constructing the not-so-safely caged chaos of the play.
Installation Art
In his interview, Director David R. Gammons spoke of thinking of this show in terms of performance and installation artwork as opposed to more âclassicalâ theatre. The sprawling, messily constructed sculptures of artist Jason Rhoade provided an initial scenic inspiration for the production team, followed by the tightly contained installations by Louise Bourgeois and Matthew McCaslinâs work with video and television sculptures.
“All art comes from terrific failures and terrific needs that we have. It is about the difficulty of being a self because one is neglected. Everywhere in the modern world there is neglect, the need to be recognized, which is not satisfied. Art is a way of recognizing oneself.“ Â Â âLouise Bourgeois, 1988
Mirrors and Reflections
Echoing the figure of âThe Doubleâ in Borgesâ book, reflections and iterations play an important part in Necessary Monsters. Â Doubled casting allows characters to resonate with one another across layers of reality, and events repeat and change with each passing moment. Even special-effects artist Cissa gets in on the action, by creating the reflection of a killer for the film that she is working on.
The Book of Imaginary Beings
Jorge Luis Borgesâ Book of Imaginary Beings provided a core starting point for Necessary Monsters. All of the characters in the play found their start as one of the creatures Borges describes. Though layers of characterization have been added on top of them, the central grain of many of Borgesâ monsters remain, and some of them are spoken about during the course of the play. Here are a few that might be recognizable, although there are plenty more. (All quotes are from Borges):
Russian Nesting Realities
In the first production meeting, director David R. Gammons likened the structure of Necessary Monsters to that of a Russian nesting doll, with each layer of reality contained within another. Many of the âlevelsâ in Kuntzâs play are defined along genre lines, as real and fictional worlds interweave, mix, and churn.
Genres
Necessary Monsters is many things within the course of the play:Â a book, a film, a different film, and even a childrenâsâ TV show. Each of these layers occupies a different genre structure, keying off of Kuntz and Gammonsâ interest in media, mitigation, and entertainment forms. Although be aware: none of the genres in Necessary Monsters are exactly what youâd expect:
Your donation sets the stage for a new season of Boston's most intimate, entertaining and provocative plays and musicals. Our shows make powerful connections with our audiences-- and they are only possible because of you.