Photos from the performance
The other performances of The Residents in the Archa Theatre
Evangelism According to the Residents in the Archa:
Analysis not only of the American Society
San Francisco's cryptic group The Residents had their last live concert in 1990. Since then, they have produced several albums, three CD-ROMs and, in 1995, they created the Czech-American theatre production of The Freak Show in the Prague's Archa Theatre. In that same location, from June 19 to the 21st, they presented their latest project of Wormwood, a stage performance of their last year's album, Wormwood - Curious Stories from the bible.
The Residents always create music which is demanding to listen to and not like anything else. In the last few years, their albums have brought about samplers, computer and other digital techniques. When the curtain opened, it was a pleasant surprise to see the Residents standing on the Archa stage with classical rock instruments. The eyeball masks wearing top hats created an opportunity for the musicians to remain incognito for the past thirty years. In the spirit of the performance, the stage was furnished like a church altar. The quartet performed economically, but inventively and consistent.
The performance is a collection of dark stories taken from the Old Testament (decapitation, rape, genocide, cutting off fingers, as well as other stories), whose protagonists include Lot, Noah, Cain, Moses, Onan, and Abraham, just to name a few. Mr. Skull, individually introduced the songs (episodes) like a Kocáb Ropotámo wearing a black skull mask, parodying TV preachers that are so common in American society. In the final scene, Mr. Skull is crucified, accompanied by the sound of the distinctive version of Give Me That Ol' Time Religion.
The stories/songs were individually interpreted by the vocalists (either a man or woman) in Pierrot masks and movements who wore costumes lit with florescent light. The female vocalist was especially rich in her various shadows and expressions. A better knowledge of the text could have helped the audience with a more intensive enjoyment of the performance, but as it is, it was possible to be completely concentrated only on the music and the stage activities. The Residents, the underground of rock underground, offered a production which intensively dissected the foundation of American society, however still providing an opportunity to think about it for oneself.
Saša Neuman, MF Dnes, 22. 6. 1999
(The author is editor of monthly Rolling Stone)