Past Shows
Second Sight
The Matchbox Series:
Workshop Productions at La Val's
Second Sight
written and performed by
Lea Bender
Richard Szpigiel
played June 17 – 25,
2005 at La Val's Subterranean in Berkeley.
There are some experiences that leave us changed forever. In this season's
second Matchbox Workshop Production, we joined Crowded Fire Associate
Lea Bender on her return journey to a small mountaintop village in Ghana
where she finds herself participating in possession rituals with a group
of African spirit mediums. Second Sight weaves
live solo performance with video and soundscape to tell this incredible
true story. Through characters from her time in Ghana (including the
lively and often comical spirits themselves), Lea opened the door to
questions about belief, spirituality and the unknown for both herself
and her audiences.
Second Sight was originally created as a
15 minute solo performance in a workshop taught by local treasure Charlie
Varon. It was further developed through the support of the Monday Night
Series at The Marsh. Local performance artist Lea Bender has just returned
from Ghana where she spent three months gathering stories and images
to expand Second Sight into a full-length
show as part of Crowded Fire's Matchbox Series.
Lighting Design: Jarrod Fischer
Graphic Design: Chacha Sikes
Stage Manager: Peggy Powell
Producer: Beth Powell