Well, the RATs are gone from our fair city, but like all good rodents, they’ve
left a little something for us to remember them by — in this case, a piece of
guerrilla art on the Drag. These particular savvy scavengers are actually
theatre artists, mostly with smaller, poorer independent companies around the
country, who have formed an informal national network called RAT (it may look
like an acronym, but the letters don’t stand for anything). They assembled in
Austin last week for their fourth- ever RAT Conference, this one christened the
RatRave in the Heat Wave (for rather obvious reasons). Some 50 RATs made
their way here from as far away as Minneapolis, Seattle, San Diego, Washington,
D.C., Coney Island, and the Republic of Georgia. They were joined by an equal
number of local artists, most of whom were getting their first taste of RAT.
Vicky Boone of Frontera@Hyde Park Theatre, Steve Moore of Physical Plant
Theater, and Jason Neulander of Salvage Vanguard Theater — all veteran RATs —
led the way in coordinating the four-day event, and Robi and Michelle Polgar
gave over The Public Domain space to serve as RAT Central. Whenever the
attendees weren’t there or over at the State Theatre, Calle Ocho, Capitol City
Playhouse, or 823 Congress filling up on workshops (the buzz was particularly
strong for the session on creative process by Belgrade-based DAH Teatar and the
one on writing by NYC playwright Ruth Margraff), you could count on finding
them at Little City weighing the pros and cons of having your own theatre space
over iced cappuccinos or at Ruby’s swapping the names of hot young playwrights
between bites of brisket. Much good info was shared (expect to see more
out-of-town artists on local stages and local artists working out of town),
many fine shows were seen (don’t be surprised if productions of plays by local
dramatist David Bucci pick up considerably after this week), and a decent
amount of partying was done (ask Austin American-Statesman critic Michael
Barnes if he’s finished cleaning up his back yard yet).
The highlight of the RatRave, however, may well have been the renegade art
action that occurred during the “Whim Vendors” workshop. The workshop leaders,
longtime practitioners of politically-edged street theatre, had brought with
them a 20-foot long painting with the specific intent of plastering it over an
obnoxious local billboard. Ten RATs canvassed the city looking for a suitably
odious piece of advertising and found it just north of the UT campus, at the
intersection of Guadalupe & 29th Streets. At high noon on Friday, four
members of the group climbed boldly onto the roof of Al’s Formal Wear and
slapped their renegade art on top of a Miller Lite billboard. Now, over those
three women sporting “Life Is Good” across their collective busts stands a
mutant mouse crying out, “Despite My Rage, I’m Still Just a Ratt at a Rave.”
While we don’t expect the Miller folks to agree, we consider it a real
improvement. Thanks, RATs, and y’all come back soon.
Send literary, performing, and visual arts news to: “Articulations,” PO Box
49066, Austin, TX 78765 or onstage@auschron.com
This article appears in August 16 • 1996 and August 16 • 1996 (Cover).