Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
Soul! EP 43 (401) The George Faison Universal Dance Experience (Loretta Abbott, Lettie Batle, Harvey Cohen, Eugene Little, Sandy McPherson, Al Perryman, Renee Rose, Jason William Taylor, Evelyn Thomas) perform an original ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." Imamu Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones) and Mae Jackson read their poetry. Ellis Haizlip is host.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
FI CU hands of young African-American man (Al Perryman? Note that the nails have been painted black) fingering packet of white powder heroin (smack, junk, horse, H, drugs, illicit) at table on which a small pile of white powder heroin remains; tilt up to dramatically painted face of black man as he dips finger into packet, tastes the drug, rolls eyes to camera, then laughs maniacally. Creepy, evil. "Soul!" opening credits by announcer Joe Dennis.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform opening movement of contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." Nifty reverse key (negative) effect of black male dancer (Al Perryman?) wearing tribal white & black face paint, tight black shirt w/ yellow spider-like veins & red heart, dancing to 70s Miles-style fusion jazz on chilly-looking blue & white stage. Negative effect ends, male dancer continues to perform. Fellow troupe members of George Faison Universal Dance Experience walk onto stage, perform. High art, dance, performance. Lead male dancer feigns pain, then shrugs it off coolly, walks out of frame.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience continue to perform opening movement of contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." Male & female dancers pretend to smoke marijuana in cliques; they get high, feel loopy lazy & silly & then ultimately groovy. Lite skronk jazz instrumentation that segues into trumpet-driven 1970s Miles-like fusion jazz. Funky blue & white stage with swirls on center stage. Lead dancer (Al Perryman?) returns briefly to behave like a knowing pusher pulling their strings. Art, dance, performance. Ensemble.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
Poet Imamu Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones) recites unidentified original poem about drug addiction and Italians. Angry, biting, Beat poetry. "Make you OD together like my brothers down the street who like to OD, they do it all the time. Why is dope so nice to us? Why do we like it?" "Dope is shit!" "What difference do it make? Stay high, suckachump! Lay out and be cool! The devil is corny." Most expletives are deleted.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform "You're the One, I'm the One" movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." Ensemble dancer performance to deep funk on cool blue & white & black stage. Lead dancer (Al Perryman?) dances solo at outset.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform creepy movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." Hallucinogenic glycerin-like strobe effect as dancers wearing cellophane & little else spin on red & white stage to audio of choir evoking eerie high-pitched composition best suited for a certain Hollywood picture about Damien, the Prince of Darkness. Scary ensemble performance. The Pusherman (Al Perryman?) is last off-stage, stalking the camera & placing red swatch over lens.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform jaunty classical piano movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." Female dancers wear children's clothes replete with bows & behave & dance in a similar manner. The gang gangs up on a female dancer, stripping her of her figurative innocence by tearing away her children's clothes before leaving her in a white slip to perform a solo dance to the strains of an anonymous cover of the Paul/John classic, "Yesterday." The Pusherman (Al Perryman?) enters to dance briefly with her before leaving, young woman in tow.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform drum solo movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." The Pusherman (Al Perryman?) dances solo to militaristic snare drum intro than segues into jazzy drum solo rife with timbres & skin-pushing. Great key-effect of The Pusherman glowering malevolently on screen left while two male dancers perform balletic tug of war on screen right; other male ensemble dancers-- including the Pusher-- join in. The Pusher lays claim to a dancer, chokes him to the ground & sucks at the crook of his arm (alluding to mainlining heroin).
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform "lovers" movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." Male & female ballet dance number that begins with bickering couple. Horn-and-strings-heavy soul instrumental music. A second couple enters fray as first couple exunts. First couple returns in reprise, only in solo form. Two women fight-dance over man from second couple. The Pusherman (Al Perryman?) enters. Lonely female dancer spurned by male lover pretends to sample The Pusherman's palm of cocaine, then dances with him; she succumbs easily to the Pusherman.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform "awakening" movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." Male & female solo dancers cavort on blue & white stage with red background; initially wearing cellophane, the couple shed the material to reveal brown bodysuits. Sexy, at times erotic dance to flute-driven jazz instrumental. At outset, the couple collapse to the floor & into the arms of one another.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform "Ice Queen" movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." High energy organ-driven dance routine during which The Pusherman (Al Perryman?) introduces the Ice Queen-- love her blue Afro wig & sequin dress. At the outset, the Ice Queen commands nonverbally for a couple to remove their colorful hats & clothes to writhe on the floor with her opiated minions. The Ice Queen falls onto the outstretched arms of her minions, who pass her about (akin to crowd surfing, I reckon).
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience perform movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." Creepy reverse key negative effect of the Pusherman (Al Perryman?) dancing solo to anonymous soul cover version of "The Thrill is Gone." Negative effect reverts to positive midway through movement. At the outset, The Pusherman wrestles with The Ice Queen while the opiated minions scream. With The Ice Queen down, The Pusherman stalks to the camera, hollers, "So you want it? You got it!" and streaks his black & white makeup down his cheeks. The Pusherman laughs, the minions at his feet; background lights dim to black & the Pusherman thrusts in place. Fade out.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
Soul! Producer Ellis Haizlip thanks the George Faison Universal Dance Experience & Imamu Amiri Baraka. Mr. Haizlip says blacks are being "busted and ripped off" in schools, prisons, and at home, then mentions the senseless murder of George Jackson-- "We will continue in this vulnerable position until we organize ourselves. We need someone to come to the comfort & aid of black people. Are you the one?"
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
Ellis Haizlip introduces poet Mae Jackson. Mae Jackson reads original poem about struggle for black independence: "Is there anyone here today that feels he does not want to use his arms, legs, hearts, hands & mind? If so, please donate them to our struggle. Is there a doctor in the house?" Mae Jackson reads original poem about oppression, freedom, Black Panthers George Jackson, Bobby Hutton, Fred Hampton, Ralph Featherstone, etc: "In America, black men do not live long." At outset, Ellis Haizlip thanks Mae Jackson, the George Faison Universal Dance Experience (lists the dancers by name), closes program.
Soul! EP 43 (401) "Poppy"
The George Faison Universal Dance Experience finish final movement from contemporary ballet about drug addiction, "Poppy." "I'm the One, You're One" reprise plays while the Pusherman throbs & gesticulates & undulates in a quasi-disco fashion with poppy minions at his feet. Credits roll.