In this restaging of a scene from Tommy, The Who's rock opera, Donegan analyzes the ways in which media cannibalizes, revises, and resurrects itself. In an almost psychedelic rendition, a silver-garbed, red-wigged performer capers in a theatrical non-space of foil, plastic, police tape, and rescanned video images of Tommy star Ann-Margret.
In this restaging of a melodramatic scene from Tommy, The Who's rock opera, Donegan analyzes the ways in which media cannibalizes, revises, and resurrects itself. In an almost psychedelic rendition, a silver-garbed, red-wigged performer capers in a theatrical non-space of foil and rescanned video images of Tommy star Ann-Margret. In this silent version, Donegan herself takes the role.
Description
Juxtaposing two restagings of a melodramatic scene from Tommy, The Who's rock opera, Channeling analyzes the ways in which media cannibalizes, revises, and resurrects itself. In Donegan's almost psychedelic renditions, a silver-garbed, red-wigged performer capers in a theatrical non-space of foil, plastic, police tape, and rescanned video images of Tommy star Ann-Margret. In Channeling in 4 Versions, actress Garland Hunter enacts the scene, and then, in a silent version (Channeling in 5 Versions), Donegan herself takes the role.
Donegan writes: "The 1st version of Tommy is as an album in the 60's; version 2 is a film in the 70's for theatrical release; version 3 is the release on video in the 80's and 90's for home viewing; then, as a video by me, versions 4 and 5."
With: Garland Hunter, Cheryl Donegan. Sound: The Who, Ann-Margret, Felt.
