Friday, February 6, 2009

Re: theatre of note show

Dear Frank,

My name is Chuck Coffman. My girlfriend and I came out to support the Theatre of Note's all night fundraiser. We attended an art opening in Silverlake and then had sushi in West Hollywood. Between us we had just enough money to see Addler's Appetite, a great rock show at the Key Club or go & support the Theatre of Note and live theatre. Honestly, I wanted to rock out to some metal. But, we ended up choosing Theatre of Note and settled into an over packed theatre after laying down our forty dollars. We saw the anti-jesus piece. That was O.K., I wasn't overly impressed. Then, a very funny guy came out and did a spoken word rant which was intelligent and funny. That was cool. The lights came up. We moved to better seats and settled in for the next skit. The lights went down and it was The Frank Moore performance. Honestly, Frank, your performance is the single most revolting and nausiating live performance I've ever witnessed. It was a scarring experience. I'm better now.My girlfriend, having been exposed to multiple theatre, performance, etc. and experimental shit,and,therefore, was not as affected as me. I did not whom you were. I did not know or understand that the guy in the wheel chair was "Frank Moore".Your cast put the mic on you.I realized it was you. I made it thru the gig. Quite a few did not and had to excuse themselves. The next morning I thought about my experience and your performance and concluded that your confinement and situation has not trapped your ability to communicate and to create.I applaud that! What must be a glimpse into your soul and mind frightened and sickened me. I applaud your ability and gumption in getting it out there, making it happen. However, a mind as crisp as yours managed to disgust me and turn me off, not on. I'm glad I experienced a glimpse into the mind of Frank Moore, but saddened it was not much to see and little if any inspiration for anything to me.What art did you exhibit? Its a free country man, but c'mon...

I dig your website. I dig the underground anti-corporate thing. Maybe L.U.V.E.R will inspire me someway. Maybe some good will come from having subjected myself to your "performance". I hope so. I busted my ass for that 40 bucks.

Sincerely,
Chuck Coffman

* * * * *

thanks, chuck, for writing your response to my piece. we artists live for such letters...especially when the reactions to the art is so intense and powerful as yours. it means the art is working! i sympathize with you about spending your hard earned money...even though the note is a worthy cause...and missing the metal show to boot! doing the show cost me several thousand dollars! we live in berkeley. on the way down our transmission crapped out and on the way back the tire exploded, blowing a hole in the car's body. that is over the normal cost of travel....hotel, food, etc.

i like how you are aware that you are continuing to work through my piece, and that the piece is continuing to work inside of you. i have had people who hated my performance right after who have come back years later and say the performance had a profound and positive effect in/on their lives. that is how art works. so hang in there.

what exactly made it revolting and nausiating and scarring and disgusting...and in what ways?

i'm glad you checked out the websites!

In Freedom,
Frank Moore

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