Last Wednesday evening we entered a mystical alternate reality better known as a Hammer Museum courtyard performance by WIFE with Dorian Wood and Hecuba called “Enter The Cave.” Created by three Los Angeles-based dancers, Jasmine Albuquerque, Kristen Leahy and Nina McNeely, WIFE is known as A Trinity of Illusory Performance Makers who do a killer job at creating all-encompassing senses-engaged theatrical experiences—or so we had heard. This was our first time seeing the trio live and it was really rather spooky and spectacular. 

Loosely based on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, “Enter the Cave” is a story of transformation and transcendence told through illusion. The performance is meant to rearrange our notions of reality, space and time—and maybe even scare the crap out of us a little. We arrived on the scene to a packed courtyard after having waited in the parking line for 30 minutes (note to selves: Uber always). People filled every level, listening intently to a figure dressed in white chanting ominously, immediately reminiscent of an Orthodox church service one of us were all too familiar with.

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Three figures dressed in white veils and white hoods ran around the crowd making noise and screaming from above. One of the three ended up stopping behind this poor woman who was so startled she dropped her phone while the cloaked figure ran off into the distance! We imagined the figure snickering under her breath and could not stop laughing about how odd and mischievous this moment was. Oh art world…

 

At one point the figures circled in various crowded areas coming together atop a paper mache mountain to partake in a series of beautiful synchronized movements. There was fog, strobe lights, projections and music that made your heart race. The young—particularly a man scooting around in roller skates—looked enchanted, while older audience members looked slightly bewildered but undeniably under their spell. 

Once the performance had wrapped the Hecuba set stage behind glass, the crowd moved as one unit to the back of the courtyard with many watching from up above. Laser lights pierced our eyes as we trekked through the masses of hip artists, crust punks, hippies and yuppie professionals alike. We grabbed a seat at the café in the back watching, realizing that this night had been like nothing we’ve experienced. Performance art is often hard to swallow but not when executed this well. It felt like magic. Something witchy and wonderful, reflected in the diversity of the crowd and the willingness of everyone to play along.

You can play along too and watch the entire performance HERE