In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat tickets

Less a play, feels more like a piece of performance art, this one-person series of reflections of Basquiat and the time in which he lived, was a failure for me on several levels. First, the show meanders and has no clear dramatic arc or center. Second, the whole thing came across (to me at least) as pretentious and self-absorbed. Third, there aren't too many insights into the character of Basquiat as a person or as an artist, just mentions of encounters, and other cultural events happening at the time. In fact, we don't get to see his art at all (a deliberate decision, a rights issue perhaps?), while assuming that we know it well. The one enjoyable element is the live soundscape created on stage, that does manage to transport you to different places and times, but it just isn't enough to recommend this show. I still salute NYTW for staging this, and taking on chances with experimental shows like this. This one just didn't work for me.

Perf artist knew Basquiat a little back in the day. 60 min monolog has many elements very loosely woven together. Cast a spell on some, I guess, but not me. Author/performer was his own director -- a mistake?

I did not enjoy RGS's response to his friend JMB. It was too unfocused, rambling, disjointed. I know little more about JMB than when I entered the theater.