LAPD INSPECTS CHICAGO
LAPD, according to press material, is “the first performance group in the nation comprised mainly of homeless and formerly homeless people.” Under the direction of performance artist John Malpede, LAPD visited Chicago for a 45-day residency based at Cooper’s Place, a day shelter for homeless men. This show, performed both at Cooper’s Place and Randolph Street Gallery, is the result of workshops there.
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The opening scene is gripping not only because of the wholehearted commitment of Jenkins and Tahir, which makes the exchange appear spontaneous and truly dangerous, but because of the complexity of the emotions involved. It’s clear that Jenkins’s character, for all of his aggression, is desperately insecure, trying to leave his mark in a society that hardly acknowledges him. Tahir, while seemingly weak, does all he can to keep Jenkins’s dignity intact. He responds with touching kindness, telling Jenkins, “You’re my people.”
All of the scenes are loosely scripted, the performers making things up as they go along while those not in the scene, including director Malpede, shout out encouragement or objections. This chaotic style, while interesting in its refusal to acknowledge any central authority–everything seems up for grabs here–too often buries the performers. Much of the time it seems as though these men are trying to be improvisational comics, when, as is made clear through performances such as Jenkins’s and Topaz’s, they are most engaging when simply allowed to be themselves. It is enough for them to just be themselves, yet the structure of the evening by and large does not allow them to show their strengths. Malpede may be imposing upon his performers a style and format with which they are not wholly comfortable.
