How Time Flies: Epic Productions at BAM

by Susan Yung

River of Fundament, the epic filmic work by Matthew Barney and Jonathan Bepler that makes its world premiere at the BAM Harvey Theater this Wednesday, is nearly six hours in length, including two intermissions. Lest you think that's long, here are some of BAM's previous presentations that exceeded four hours (the arbitrary definition of long). In chronological order:

1. The Life and Times of Sigmund Freud | Robert Wilson | Dec 1969 | 12 hours

Mrs. Hamilton and Michel Sondak in the Robert Wilson production The Life and Times of Sigmund Freud

2. Einstein on the Beach | Philip Glass, Robert Wilson | 1984, 1992, 2012 Next Wave Festival | 4:30

Einstein on the Beach, 2012 BAM production. Photo: Stephanie Berger

3. The Mahabharata | Peter Brook | Oct 1987—Jan 1988 | 9 hours

Richard Fallon, Georges Corraface, and Jeffrey Kissoon. Photo: Jean-Claude Carrière
 

4. Les Atrides, Fall 1992 | Ariane Mnouchkine, Théâtre du Soleil | At Park Slope Armory | 10 hours

Les Atrides "backstage" area. Photo courtesy of BAM Hamm Archives

5. Seven Streams of the River Ota | Robert Lepage | 1996 Next Wave Festival | 7 hours

Robert Lepage's Seven Streams of the River Ota. Photo courtesy of BAM Hamm Archives

6. Cloudstreet | Company B Belvoir | 2001 Next Wave Festival | 5:15

Christopher Pitman and Daniel Wylie in Cloudstreet, Company B Belvoir/Black Swan Theatre, 2001. Photo: Heidrun Lohr

7. Lipsynch | Robert Lepage | 2009 Next Wave Festival | 8:25

Lipsynch, Robert Lepage/Ex Machina/Théâtre Sans Frontières, 2009. Photo: Richard Termine

8. Roman Tragedies | Ivo van Hove, Toneelgroep Amsterdam | 2012 Next Wave Festival | 5:45

Ivo Van Hove's Roman Tragedies. Photo: Jan Versweyveld

9. The Laramie Project Cycle | Winter/Spring 2013 | 4:30

The Laramie Project. Photo: Michael Lutch

10. River of Fundament | Winter/Spring 2014 | 5:52

River of Fundament. Photo: Ivano Grasso

Any that we missed?

(Note: corrected on Feb 18, 2014.)