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Artist's Worlds: Darger's Art vs. Capote's Fame
20 Mar
Summary
- Henry Darger, a recluse, created vast art unseen until his death.
- Truman Capote's fame crumbled after publishing socialite secrets.
- Two art exhibits explore solitary lives of Darger and Capote.
Two distinct solo artistic endeavors, "Bughouse" and "Tru," offer contrasting portraits of isolation and public life. "Bughouse," inspired by the reclusive artist Henry Darger, showcases his vast, fantastical creations. Darger, a hospital janitor, secretly amassed hundreds of paintings and thousands of pages of writing, depicting a world of child rebels and princesses.
His work, characterized by vibrant, eerie battle scenes, was only discovered in 1972 when he moved into care. Darger's art, a unique blend of naivety and darkness, has drawn comparisons to Hieronymus Bosch. Despite its richness, the play "Bughouse" struggles to translate this material effectively to the stage.
Conversely, "Tru" revives Jay Presson Allen's play about Truman Capote, focusing on his downfall after publishing "Answered Prayers." The play captures Capote in 1975, grappling with the fallout from exposing his wealthy New York socialite friends.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson portrays Capote, navigating the writer's addiction and shattered social life. The production explores Capote's reliance on public approval and the devastating consequences of betrayal, culminating in his lonely descent into drugs and alcohol.
The productions "Bughouse" and "Tru" run through April 5 and May 3, respectively. "Bughouse" is at the Vineyard Theater, while "Tru" is at the House of the Redeemer.
