A pretty straightforward doc about The Living Theater and its recent renaissance. What spectacular footage! Some of it provided by Jonas Mekas (I think). We see clips of performances of “Paradise Now,” which looks like a whole lot of naked writhing as rocks whiz past actors’ head during the May ’68 uprising. While a lot of Brechtian theory is tossed about (and recent street performances galore) I would have liked a little insight into just how this is all funded. Especially since so much of the work is about the evils and horrors of money. They don’t appear to be living rich, but they are eating. (And no mention of Brian De Palma’s brilliant parody “Be Black Baby.”) The film doesn’t dwell on the late Julian Beck — but all footage of him is welcome. With him and Brother Theodore and Ginsburg gone, New York needs another frightening, raging Jew. News: for the first time in decades The Living Theater has its own dedicated space opening in New York. Next year they’ll revive “The Brig,” the piece that sent them off to Europe and Brazil in the first place. It’ll be down on Clinton St. If I psyche myself up now, I may be able to tolerate an entire performance!
