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Plato's Porno Cave presents: THE TRIAL

A Trailer for Plato's Porno Cave: The Trial (filmed by Ross Brubeck on Friday, June 13th, 2014)

After 4 years of searching for that perfect shadow on the wall, Platoʼs Porno Cave is excited to share with Philadelphia its finest installment of surrealist manifestation to date. This year will present a maddening gala that puts the whole audience on trial.

At the center of the gallery stands a living tree. A question is posed Chaos or Order? Do we tend to this majestic example of natureʼs beauty and enjoy its shade for years to come, or set it ablaze in pursuit of an all night party of excess? A trial in ancient Athenian fashion shall ensue. The audience plays the role of jury and gets to decide whether they want to be ruled by the flagrance of Dionysius or the glowing rationale of Apollo. Throughout the night arguments from both corners will be presented through music, theater, and interactive spectacle. Once all of the ballots have been cast the result will either be a triumphant celebration of life or a grande coupe de grace!


at Little Berlin Gallery

June 13-July 16, 2014

Philadelphia, PA

a collaboration with Augustus Depenbrock

ppc.the trial.pdf
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the press kit

press reviews: 

phindie

The Art Blog

The Pyramid:

The all-seeing judge sits atop a pyramid in the gallery. He questions audience members in the Socratic method as they choose between Chaos and Order. When a decision is reached he places a token stone representing their choice upon the huge scale in the gallery. Throughout the night the stones pile up on one side or the other as the verdict shifts in the balance!

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Feeling The Fall

This piece draws from the unrecognized chaos that surrounds us everyday. It is the pain of Eve and the anger of Adam. Utilizing Primal Scream Therapy tactics viewers are allowed to release this chaos upon a symbolic apple. Once their scream sustains a certain cerebral decibel the apple will explode from their fury!

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TV Dinner

TV Dinners have been a staple of American convenience since the dawn of the TV era. Join Platoʼs Porno Cave as an entire family of Pan worshippers is served a 7-course meal fit for Dali by Platoʼs absolute truths. Audience members will be able to participate in this ongoing festivity, and may even receive gifts from their hosts if theyʼre lucky. And all this without missing any of your favorite shows.

Naked Desert

Following a wonderful lunch-in led by Pan and his followers, we must have dessert! And what better soft-serve sunday than the entire series of Encyclopedia Britannica put through a gasoline powered wood chipper. This cut up technique puts the Surealists to shame, and even Allen Ginsberg would marvel at the poetry of the moment. Surely some lines of true brilliance will be plucked from the pile of letters left strewn across the gallery floor, just waiting for the audience to reassemble them!

Cast/Crew for Opening Night:

Curated and Constructed by 
Augustus Depenbrock and Marshall James Kavanaugh

Creative Assistance 
Jason Depenbrock
Katie Coble

Costume Design
Katie Coble
A Augustus Depenbrock


Cocktail Lounge Art Salon
Gregory Labold
All-Seeing Eye Judge
Augustus Depenbrock

Plato's Absolute Truths
Amanda V. Wagner
Luke Leyden

Pan's Dinner Party
Marshall James Kavanaugh
CB
Elijah Snyder-Vidmar
SSengam VisitorTen Niloc

and Willow Zef

Schedule of Events

June 6 – soft reveal for First Friday inside the Annex performance space at Little Berlin

June 13 – OPENING NIGHT

June 18 – “Guitarcules is Coming!”, a rock opera written and performed by Gregory Labold

June 26 – “Sonic Transmissions”, a music and art-making workshop led by Kathryn Sclavi

June 27 – THE RETRIAL

June 28 – (inside the cave) “Escape Clause”, an interactive performance created by Robert Gross and Julius Ferraro

June 28 – (outside in the Fairgrounds) “Night Kitchen”, a surreal salon of puppetry and performance hosted by Jenna Spitz

July 4 – “IndepenDANCE: Come as your madness!”, a dance party for liberty

July 11 – “Smut Reading”, an open reading of erotica with an a/v performance by Rebecca Posner and Dan Veksler 
titled We Need To Find the Weight of Water”

July 12 – “Pale Redhead Urge Surf Services & Consultation”, a surreal performance curated by Maiza Hixson

How to destroy a pyramid in 5 seconds:

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All imagery and content © 2022 Marshall James Kavanaugh. All Rights Reserved.