From Betty to a BathtubGirl-Band Member Amy Ziff Declares Her Theatrical Independence in 'Accident'
By Jane HorwitzSpecial to The Washington PostWednesday, September 12, 2007; Page C05
In her new solo performance piece, "Accident," Amy Ziff, the cello-playing member of the alt-rock girl band Betty, deals with matters of some gravity. Accidental suicide, for starters.
Her stage self tells us she slipped in the tub and accidentally sliced her wrist on her razor, landing her in the afterlife.Ziff explores "what part of your life is completely regrettable and what part is a celebration" in her solo performance piece, presented by Theater J as part of its Incubator Series.
Sizing up her years on Earth with "good" and "bad" lists of her traits, Amy wonders whether she'll end up in Heaven or Hell. And whether she'll see the parents she misses so much.
Theater J is presenting "Accident" as part of its Incubator Series of new works at Studio Theatre's Stage 4 space through Sept. 23.
Ziff, whose conversational phrasing sometimes lilts like song lyrics, says she wants to explore "the whole idea of accidents versus intentions and what part of your life is accidental and what part of your life is actually by choice, and what part of your life is completely regrettable and what part is a celebration." She monologizes, sings, plays acoustic cello (no need for amplification in non-Betty mode) and takes on alter egos along her emotional journey.
The piece, workshopped at Theater J in January, was developed in New York with director Michael Greif ("Rent," "Grey Gardens"), who staged the show "Betty Rules" for the band, and with Rebecca Asher, script supervisor for HBO's "Entourage." She is staging the show here. Ziff took earlier versions of "Accident" to Canada and Italy.
Beyond quirks of fate, Ziff says she longs to peel away the mystery of depression.
"What makes depression and the feeling of being completely lost turn around for some people to experience complete joy . . . especially these days when there are so many things to make you completely afraid and curl up in a corner?" she wonders. "Is it just a question of going with the flow, or is it an active choice?"
The Washington area native won't say a particular experience sparked "Accident" but concedes a recent breakup had something to do with it -- "normal everyday life things where you say, oh, brother, it's happening again."
The other Betty members -- sister Elizabeth Ziff (their father was Washington actor Irv Ziff) and Alyson Palmer -- have encouraged her, Amy Ziff says. "We're all really excited and supportive of each other when we're working on individual projects. . . . It's really a great kind of feeling to know that your primary artistic family, to know that Betty is always there for you."
That's sort of what Ziff hopes people will get out of her little comedic exploration of death, depression, phobias and slipping in the tub: "Just to laugh at ourselves in this predicament and realize that in the end we only have each other . . . maybe our friends and family, and maybe ourselves."