Critic’s Choice
In 2011, the composer Robert Ashley published his novel, Quicksand. Written in Ashley’s distinctive first- person narrative voice, the book is a tremendously entertaining spy novel, with intrigue and adventure—strong, funny, and touching. With the help of choreographer Steve Paxton and long-time collaborator Tom Hamilton (a composer and audio engineer), Ashley began, in 2012, to make the novel into an operatic performance. Now, two years after his death, it is ready.
Thursday at 7 p.m., Quicksand opens at the Kitchen for a run of six performances. Ashley will be a key performer—Hamilton recorded and edited him reading the libretto in his warm, compelling style. Hamilton realized the electronic score, and Paxton created the choreography for himself, Maura Gahan, and Jurij Konja.. Set inside a lighting environment designed by David Moodey,
Quicksand opens 7 p.m. Thursday at the Kitchen, and continues through February 6 thekitchen.org
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