For those who missed Cynthia Hopkins’ "Accidental
Nostalgia" at St. Ann’s Warehouse last season, there’s
good news. The piece will return to DUMBO on Jan. 5 as part of
the "Under
the Radar" theater festival and continue for an extended
run until Jan. 23.
"When we did the run the first time, [’Accidental Nostalgia’]
got a positive response," Hopkins (pictured) told GO Brooklyn.
"There were a lot of people who wanted to see it, but couldn’t,
or wanted to see it again."
Hopkins, 32, had already established herself as a composer and
musician with her own band, Gloria Deluxe, as well as a performer
with several companies when she decided to write "Accidental
Nostalgia."
"I wanted to make a work that would combine my concerts
with more theatrical work. I wanted a narrative thread,"
she explained. Hopkins found that thread in her own experience.
"I had experienced amnesia in my own life. I was very disturbed
by it, and I wanted to learn more about it," said Hopkins.
"I was interested in investigating identity and the negative
effects of trauma and how it’s possible to overcome the effects
of traumatic events."
"Accidental Nostalgia" is about a neurologist, Cameron
Seymour, who suffers from severe amnesia, tours the world and
becomes a Sufi while searching for an identity.
Hopkins hopes that eventually she will take "Accidental
Nostalgia" on tour to England and South America. In the
meantime, she’s delighted that it will once again be shown to
New York audiences.
"Accidental Nostalgia" runs Jan. 5-23, Wednesday through
Sunday, at St. Ann’s Warehouse (38 Water St. at Dock Street).
Tickets are $25. For performance dates and times, call (718)
834-8794 or visit www.artsatstanns.org.
