Dear Jess,
I had the pleasure of being welcomed to PhillyPACK this past Friday night to see your Fringe show Cass. This venue was new to me, and it was exciting to feel like I was walking into a rich and vibrant arts community that I didn’t know before– I’m always grateful for the way that this festival will do that to you! I came into the space curious, excited to see the always magnetic Amy Boehly, who was playing Cass, and not knowing a lot about your work, other than the Greek myth at the center of your piece. I’ve been feeling pretty preoccupied with mythmaking/unmaking myself, and the evening proved to be a welcome container for some of my own questions, and an introduction to your signature blend of choreography, education, and care.
As I got settled in, I was immediately struck by how well you used the PhillyPACK space. The design of your set felt both airy and curated–those lovely columns of translucent fabric that captured your lighting so well are a great example. Your lighting design choices were especially evocative– one minute we were in an ethereal vibe on what felt like the top of Mt. Olympus, the other in an assertive pop-driven moment that really supported the way dance served as illustration, interruption, and integration throughout the piece. A big design highlight for me was the use of the frame on the upstage wall and how its use transformed over time from what seemed only decorative to literally framing projected pieces of art, to framing the gorgeous shadow work done while Cass holds a fateful weapon.
I mention education as a highlight of your work for a few reasons. One is that it was incredibly refreshing to be in an audience with so many young adults there on Friday night. When I witnessed the energy of what I can only imagine were young members of the PhillyPACK community, I was kicking myself for not bringing along my own tweens who I’d left behind, feeling unsure if they were “ready” for the subject matter–which brings me to my next thought on education. You write with the same clarity that you choreograph, and when applied to the realities of sexual assault that are at the heart of the Cassandra myth, your clarity meant honesty, approachability, and straightforward relevance that I’m glad young people got the chance to witness. I was also so happy to see that you had partnered with WOAR (Pennsylvania’s oldest and largest rape crisis center) in your programming and were fundraising on their behalf. I partnered with them on a production back in the pre-pandemic days, and it was touching to hear your curtain speech about their work and its lasting importance.
So, thank you, Jess. The evening felt both sharp and bright, and truly energizing. Honestly, I wish I could watch a plucky and pissed off BIPOC heroine fact-check Euripides on all my Friday nights!
Until the next one!
-AZ Espinoza
Jessica Noel wrote and directed Cass, which ran Sept 18-20th at PhillyPACK.
AZ Espinoza’s play Caribbean King is getting a reading as a part of the PTC Dramaturgy Cohort. Don’t miss the final showing on Sunday Sept 28th, 7 pm at the Drake.
AZ, thank you so much for this thoughtful response to CASS. I feel very understood…it’s all about education and community!