Show Response: Rose: You Are Who You Eat

by Travis Amiel, https://travisamiel.com/

As I turn the corner to the basement space at La MaMa there is a surprise. A group of women offer "hugs from a mom". I receive a very good hug. In my seat, waiting for the show to start I stare at the projection on a translucent curtain right at the separation of stage and audience. There are two elements to it: a slideshow of a youngster, and live feed of the star John Jarboe's face sitting just a bit behind the curtain, with the effect that Jarboe is staring at these same photos. And John is masticating on bucket of chicken.

John tells us about recently learning that early on in utero, there was another fetus(!) and John ate her!! Through songs and anecdotes we the audience laugh about the implications of cannibalism. At times, we are implicated to portray John's Midwestern mother, always blaming tax season for everything.

I have heard so many stories of transitions, queer realizations, years of repression, the signs missed that in retrospect are obvious. As a person that takes things literally, Jarboe telling this coming out story connected through these dots is most satisfying to me. Of course it’s one person’s story, and simply a metaphor.

My favorite moment from the show is a reperformance of a piece John did at a young age for her parents (referring to them as "subscribers, donors") wearing only gloves and white underpants flagellating around the stage and seating, mumbling in a high pitched voice.

I say to myself the title of the show a few times throughout it. In the final scene, we the audience have a role, to tie things together, to learn new language, and practice acceptance. And as I leave the theatre, I appreciate the metaphors we create to figure out why we are who we are.

Rose: You Are Who You Eat ran January 10th - January 20th, 2024 at La Mama Experimental Theater Club as part of Under the Radar