Righteous Exploits is a multi-media sound, projection, and narrative performance created by Margaret Noble and Justin Hudnall. This performance work is inspired by Ann Fabian’s book, The Unvarnished Truth– a powerful cultural history of how ordinary Americans crafted and sold their stories of hardship and calamity during the nineteenth century. Righteous Exploits is a chronicle of the life of Noble’s grandmother, Helen Hosmer, a 1940’s-era labor activist. This cinematic performance investigates the discovery of McCarthy era persecutions, FBI reports and a series of first person testimonials on the uncanny behavioral cycles shared by 4 generations of women. Each woman prospering at the expense of her family while seeking freedom. Over 400 hand-made overhead color transparencies and a minimalist electro-acoustic score were created by Noble to illuminate the narrative writing and monologue performance by Hudnall. Righteous Exploits is a darkly funny and poignant demonstration of eternal recurrence. Directed by Lisa Berger. Stills and video below from a workshop performance.
