River of Fundament 2014

In Brooklyn Heights, a wake is held in honor of the late author Norman Mailer. The atmosphere is filled with melodious performances as friends and prominent figures from New York City’s cultural and literary scene gather to pay their respects. Among the guests, the spirit of Norman I, portrayed by John Buffalo Mailer, emerges from the mystical River of Feces, a supernatural conduit hidden beneath the family’s brownstone. As he ascends to his own wake, he’s warmly greeted by his Ka spirits, embodied by Matthew Barney and Aimee Mullins, who escort him during his ethereal visit.

Through a vivid flashback, we see a ritual conducted at a Chrysler dealership in Los Angeles, where Norman I is symbolically represented by a battered 1967 Chrysler Imperial, culminating in a ceremonial procession to its resting place in a showroom. Back at the Brooklyn wake, unable to communicate with his widow, Joan La Barbara, he connects with Ptah-Nem-Hotep, a Pharaoh played by Paul Giamatti, who reveals his envy toward Norman’s past interactions with the legendary Pharaoh Usermare, represented by Stephen Payne. Their dialogue reveals a mutual understanding, contemplating their reliance on mystical practices — particularly their use of feces to gain wisdom and power. Norman I is then reintroduced to Hathfertiti, played by Madyn G. Coakley, who helps him access a portal back to the River of Feces for his rebirth.

In the second act, Norman II, portrayed by Milford Graves, arises from the River of Feces as an experienced shamanistic sorcerer. An adult Hathfertiti, now portrayed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, greets him in their home, where the wake grows increasingly somber. Another flashback takes us to Detroit, where Norman II is visualized as a gold 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am amidst a reenactment of the myth of Isis and Osiris, with Aimee Mullins and Matthew Barney playing these pivotal roles. The conflict between Nephthys and Set unfolds as mythology and domestic strife intertwine, leading to dramatic events. Isis, played by Jennie Knaggs, and her sister Nephthys race against time to recover Osiris’s body, encountering both challenges and triumphs as the intricate narrative of divine rebirth continues.

Act III brings us back to the Mailer House, witnessing Usermare return to find a nearly deserted wake, with only Hathfertiti remaining. In a bittersweet reunion, she reveals her identity as his daughter, defending her lifelong dedication to her father’s shadowy pursuits. Meanwhile, Norman II prepares for his resurgence from the River of Feces. In a separate tale, the spirit of Norman III, embodied as a 2001 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, readies for his ascension.

As the narrative culminates in a dramatic showdown between Horus, played by Brennan Hall, and Set within the high-energy atmosphere of Brooklyn, decisions are made, allegiances are tested, and the very essence of family and legacy is challenged. Hathfertiti, now older and facing her mortality, remains steadfast in her magical beliefs, ultimately choosing the earth’s supernatural energy over her royal lineage. Her final sleep signifies the end of her journey, while Usermare, consumed by despair from her rejection, irrevocably forsakes his past.

The circular narrative closes with Norman III, now played by Chief Dave Beautiful Bald Eagle, attempting to navigate his identity amid loss and confusion. Ultimately, he becomes trapped in the portal, signaling the end of the Norman lineage. The act concludes far away, at Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountain Range, weaving nature’s resilience into the tapestry of this surrealistic journey.