The culture of junk

Press, 4 December 1985, Page 24

The culture of junk

Bridging the gap between theatre and rock and roll is the aim of the young performers working on “Cowboy Mouth,” the latest production at the Free Theatre. “Cowboy Mouth,” written by Sam Shepard in collaboration with the rock musician Patti Smith, is a reflection of the real-life relationship of its authors. Shepard, the greatest American playwright of his generation, drew on his experience as a rock musician and real-life cowboy to produce the play. Allowing for some poetic exaggeration, the play provides a documentary account of their life together. These self-characterisations of Smith and Shepard are played by Lara Strongman as Cavale, “a chick who looks like a crow, dressed in raggedy black," and by Roy Montgomery as Slim, “a cat who looks like a coyote, dressed in scruffy red.” Set in a “beat-up” room scattered with miscellaneous debris, Cavale has kidnapped Slim at gunpoint to turn him into a modern day saviour, a rock and roll Jesus with a cowboy mouth. Caught up in her dreams, Slim leaves his wife and

child to live with Cavale, but begins to realise that her fantasy is one that he cannot fulfil. The tension and frustration present in their relationship begins to overtake their dreams. Into this confusion comes the Lobster Man, played by Charles Heywood, who holds the answer to world salvation under his human-sized shell. The three actors are joined by a Christchurch artist, Robin Neate, ’ whose innovative set draws on Shepard’s vision of popular culture, including imagery from cowboys, Hollywood movies, comic books, television and rock and roll—“ the culture of junk.” The “Cowboy Mouth" show is presented in two parts. Before the interval, the audience hears a musical set from Christchurch’s country and western duo, the Cray Twins, who play a number of old favourites as well as many original songs, -■ including “Demolition Derby of Love” and “The Biggest Hangover in the History of the West.” “Cowboy Mouth” will open to the public tomorrow evening and run until December 14.