Editor's Blog
It’s a play… no it’s a reading… no it’s… hard to tell. But on November 22, from noon to 6 pm, the New Museum in NYC is doing some sort of cool six hour Neuromancer thing that they describe thusly:
"An ambitious new work by Brody Condon, Case is a contemporary adaptation of the classic cyberpunk novel Neuromancer by William Gibson. Combining Gibson’s 1980s dystopian techno-fetishism with early twentieth-century abstraction, faux ‘virtual reality’ scenes will unfold via moving Bauhaus-inspired sculptural props accompanied by the Gamelan ensemble Dharma Swara." Full post here
According to the io9 posting that first hipped me to the event: "Creator Brody Condon wrote to us, and said, ‘The performance event… occurring at the new museum is a deadpan reading of Gibson’s reading, not a theatre piece.’
The performance or reading or whatever it is also boasts Sasha Grey as Molly. Besides acting in various adult films, Grey crossed over to act in Steven Soderbergh’s The Girlfriend Experience and she is part of the music group ATelicine.
You’ve gotta love the idea of faux virtual reality (it’s simulacra all the way down)… but I’m tired of Neuromancer being described as dystopian.
In a 1993 interview, Gibson himself told me:"I think my world looks dystopian if you’re a middle class white guy doing reasonably well in 1993. But if you’re crouching in a basement in Sarejevo being shelled by ethnic separatists you can read Neuromancer as a real escape. There are so many places in the world today that are so much crappier than anything I’m writing about. I think my work is hardly dystopian… I don’t worry about the dystopian label too much because I think the world we now live in is already sufficiently dire and chaotic that really straight people can’t enjoy themselves anymore…. I get the postmodern sublime in the worst possible way… mingled ecstasy and dread."
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17 Comments
I was there for the whole six hours. It was definitely deadpan. The one guy who “acted” was so over the top he got more laughs than respect. Grey wore sunglasses for the whole event, which was at first off putting. But, then again, how can you complain about Molly wearing sunglasses. Her presentation was quite competent, and she does have a stage presence. I’d watch her in the movie, if she was cast, that’s for sure, even though they’d have to cut her wonderful long, dark hair.
Since we’re already comfortably into the 21st century I’m going to go on a limb and say the concept of a woman who is a porn actress and can act is not unimaginable or unthinkable.
Don’t forget the ne plus ultra of porn stars who can act – Sibel Kekilli. She would also make an excellent Molly. If you haven’t seen it check out “Head On” (Gegen die Wand) a powerful German-Turkish film.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibel_Kekilli
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1402546/
I cannot believe I hadnt heard of this till now – to be fair sasha is a better actor then certain others cast as leading roles in other gibson story adaptations I’m sure you can think of one straight off *cough*johnny*cough*mnemonic
Annabelle Chong did the porn star version of Neuromancer back in 2000.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annabel_Chong#Late_pornography_career_and_retirement
Unacceptable. She’s good at porn, not acting, or reading or whatever the fuck is going on here.
I’m not sure if “boasts Sasha Grey” was a good choice of words. I mean, I get that you had to throw a mention of her into the post somewhere to justify the sultry picture, but as a performer she’s little to brag about.
It’s ironic that this site is dedicated to upending a universal truth (death, like in death & taxes), but can’t escape another one: sex sells.
I have never seen Sasha Grey “act”… So I won’t judge her until i see her acting, besides, she’s talented.
I don’t see why some of teh posters are knocking this before it even happens just because a porn star is playing what is probably a minor role in it, and if it’s the role I think it’ll be it should be right up her alley, no pun intended. Seriously don’t read into that. Anyway Gibson’s books are freaking sweet. I never thought I’d ever say that I wish I lived in New York, and you know what? I won’t say it now, but I do wish I could live closer to the place so I could go see this.
Anybody else notice the name of writer of this article? R.U. Sirius. I’m now wondering if this is a late April Fools.
R.U. Sirius is the editor of the magazine.
R.U. Sirius has been around for years dude.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._U._Sirius
R.U. Sirius is a pen name.
He used to write for (publish?) the cyberpunk-themed magazine, Mondo 2000.
I’d be interested if anyone goes and actually reviews this reading/play. So far all I’m reading here is reactionary prudery and speculation.
Oh yeah, Anonymous person: If you know Neuromancer rocks then you should also know that if she’s playing Molly, it definitely won’t be a minor role.
lol dude let her be… I saw an interview of her on attack of the show about this and she seemed serious about it… like professionally serious… anyways props for the art!
Are you sure you even know what you are talking about?
Molly is one of the lead characters in the book. It’s not a minor role.
Was this filmed? Is it streamed somewhere?