Older bearded actor in black and white costume gestures dramatically with multiple hands visible against black backdrop

Purple Electric Play (2014-2015)

In a mix of black light theater and black magic, PEP! follows two underground entertainers, The Vital Organs and TheStar, as they step in and out of rough and ridiculous political histories, assisted by their pals, The Audience, four naive and playful puppets, Lo-Phat, Donkey, Salad Bar and Starvation, luring their live audience deeper into the morass of questions and confrontations that arise from memories of injustice and revolt. PEP! explicitly leverages an audience’s expectation of diversion and excitement to explore the relationship of the creative class to privilege and power, both as resistors and provocateurs.

Written and directed by Asher Hartman
Assistant directed by Caroline “Zut Alors” Kim

The Cast:

Philip Littell as “The Star”
Jasmine Orpilla as “The Vital Organs, Agent”
Kalean Ung as “The Vital Organ, Control”
Joe Seely as “The Audience”
Drew Thataussie as “Songbird”
Chelsea Rector as “Mad Shadow”

Candice Lin, “People are the problem” triptych
Aubree Lynn, Scenic Designer
Ellen McCartney, Costume Designer
Jasmine Orpilla, Composer
Joe Seely, Theater design, properties, construction
Rose Strasen, Costume construction
Ken Weiler, Composer

The Creative Team:

Patrick Ballard, Artist and creator of large puppets
Winona Bechtle, Stage Manager
Chris Candelaria, Sound Supervisor
Nina Caussa, Scenic Designer
Adam Frank, Lighting Designer
Carol Guidry, Choreographer
Andrea Galdámez, Backstage Traffic Director
Chance Happenstance as Himself

Photography by Marianne Williams
Video by Ian Byers-Gamber

Performances:

Purple Electric Play (PEP!) was performed at The Mystery Theater at Machine Project from October 30, 2014 – January 18, 2015.

Cast:

Philip Littell, Jasmine Orpilla, Kalean Ung, Joe Seely, Chelsea Rector, Arne Gjelten

Creatives:

Aubree Lynn, Joe Seely, Jasmine Orpilla, Patrick Ballard, Chris Candelaria, Nina Caussa, Carol Guidry, L Wrench, Marianne Williams, Ian Byers-Gamber, Asher Hartman, Zut Lors

Excerpts from Asher Hartman’s Purple Electric Play! Video by Ian Byers-Gamber and David Fenster. Edited by Asher Hartman and Ian Byers-Gamber

→ Asher Hartman, Ian Byers-Gamber

“Hartman offers no answers because none exist, but he succeeds in rearranging what we think we know for sure into a far more critical state of ambiguity.”

— Sue Bell Yank, KCET Artbound 🔗

“It’s the players’ eager virtuosity that reinserts in the haggard form of history an absurd, electric kind of joy.”

— Tracy Jeanne Rosenthal, Art in America 🔗

“Asher Hartman’s art is located at the intersection of performance, theater, and magic.”

— Alicia Eler, Art21 🔗

→ Asher Hartman

Shirtless actor with long hair posed before vivid neon botanical backdrop with glowing serpent motif

→ Joe Seely

Stage performers in dramatic purple-pink lighting surround a large inflatable prop centerpiece in an ornate dimly lit theater
Two actors in black formal wear reacting dramatically to a large illuminated popcorn box puppet on a pink-lit stage
Two actors lit by green light in darkness, both gazing upward with tense expressions, wearing black with white strips

→ Jasmine Orpilla, Kalean Ung

Performers with oversized puppets — popcorn, drink cup, and broccoli — on a dark theatrical stage with blue backlight
Two actors' faces emerge from darkness against a black backdrop, framed by red theater curtains

→ Jasmine Orpilla, Kalean Ung

Two glowing light-painted figures in dark costumes perform on a black stage, their movements traced in blue-white luminescent lines
Actor peering through gap in dark purple velvet stage curtain, second performer visible at left edge in dim theatrical lighting
Three actors in black-and-white costumes stand in front of a red curtain, hands clasped, gazing upward with intense expressions

→ Jasmine Orpilla, Kalean Ung, Philip Littell