The Agger Fish Building, with its grandeur and history, serves as a central character in the show “Port(al)”, but according to the director and co-librettist Grindstaff, the true heart of the production lies with the children and their inner selves, not just their singing abilities.
Throughout the performance, the chorus’s songs are intertwined with audio collages featuring voices like historian Howard Zinn and activist Clarence L. Irving, Sr., who worked as a riveter in the Navy Yard. The audience also hears Eugenia Farrar, the first person to sing live over radio from a battleship docked in the Navy Yard. These elements, curated by Abumrad, provide a deep dive into the overlooked past of the area.
The collage paints a vivid picture of the Agger Fish Building as a complex and vital space, despite its questionable history. The show even begins outside the building, exploring the flora, fauna, and indigenous Lenape tribe that once inhabited the land. The audience is confronted with the grim reality of standing on a road of bones, remnants of bodies dumped from prison ships in nearby Wallabout Bay.
As the audience is ushered into a lavish cabaret space within the Agger Fish Building, they are introduced to Cynthia Hopkins, a retired theater-maker and performer portraying the character Rusty Brown. Grindstaff describes Brown’s life as a captivating and extraordinary tale, adding another layer of intrigue to the already multifaceted production.
The show seamlessly weaves together history, storytelling, and performance art to create a unique and immersive experience for the audience. Through a combination of music, spoken word, and visual elements, “Port(al)” brings the rich tapestry of the Agger Fish Building and Navy Yard to life in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
