Paul McComas, Heather Mell and Angela Roche' present a 'live dramatic/musical performance' based on McComas's novel Unplugged at Women & Children First Book (5233 N Clark) Jan. 28 and at The Green Mill (4802 N Broadway) Feb. 9.
Prose writer and musician Paul McComas combines these two interests of his in his novel Unplugged (John Daniel & Company, 2002, $14.95). McComas has created the unforgettable character of Dayna Clay, a rock star who, at the height of her popularity, performs a disappearing act. Having put a stop to her own suicide attempt, Dayna gets in her car and drives west, stopping in the Badlands, where she undergoes a spiritual transformation. A bisexual woman, still healing from the messy break-up with her partner Chloe, and dealing with her own manic depressive state, Dayna attempts to reinvent herself, something that many people would love to have the opportunity to do.
As a straight man, McComas uses a sensitive and sensible voice in constructing Dayna, which is an admirable accomplishment.
Gregg Shapiro: There is a wonderful device where you have Dayna being interviewed by writer from a music magazine. Have you ever done any rock journalism?
Paul McComas: I've done some rock criticism, but not what the character of Hugh McCarter in the book does. Dayna, in many ways, is another version of myself. To some extent, that section of chapter 8 is my soapbox. It was important to do it in a way that didn't interfere with the flow of the narrative, but also enhanced it. The plot development that occurs is that through his questions and her answers she finds herself, for the first time in months, beginning to redevelop a taste for performance. If the book ever gets filmed, I want to play the rock journalist (laughs).
GS: Say something about the nature of the unusual presentations of the book that you are doing in bookstores.
PM: I have a background in performance art and have been doing it in Chicago and across the country since around 1987. I learned (to play) bass 22 years ago and I've been in many rock bands with interesting names since then, including Lithium, the Rock Against Depression tribute band. I'm also a pretty good back-up singer and writing about a rock star gives me an excuse to fold that in.
GS: How did you find Angela Roche and Heather Mell, the women who perform with you for the Unplugged performances?
PM: I met Angela while playing pool at Tommy Nevin's Pub over a year ago. She mentioned that she sings. (She's a) fantastic singer. I would say that while she's singing the part of Dayna she's acting it too. She has a fair amount in common with the character and draws upon that commonality. I met Heather, who is a fantastic actor and works at the Court Theater, through my other life as a figure model in drawing, painting, photography and sculpture classes.