We're seeing performances from all over the wold here. Nearly every night is a double bill, often followed by a talkback. I'm getting lots of ideas for how I want to direct my productions this year. I miss my students already. Here's a run- down of shows so far:
"The Magic Floating Tabletop" - Black clad puppeteers stand behind a table and manipulate objects like chopticks, leaves and fans. You can only see what is caught by a very tight beam of light on the table. Expressive gibberish and both Chinese and English words made it clear what was happening in each scene. Amusing and the objects became oddly endearing!
"Her Son, Jose Rizal" - A group of Filipino students did a very melodramatic, Greek tragedy- version of this true story of a rebel against the Spanish. Fascinating use of a Greek Chorus type ensemble and compelling stage pictures, but the whole thing was at the same high intensity level througout. It also seemed to have about 5 times when you thought it was over. I'd tighten up that script and try to give more of an arc to the action, but I learned something about the history and passion of the people.
"Story of Mona" - Palestine. A Palestinian girl of 14 is being forced by her uncle and father into marriage. When she rebels, they beat her, and ultimately they kill her. The court freed the father and gave the uncle only 3 months in prison. True story. Well acted. They followed with a forum based on the work of Boal where audience members offer suggestions to change the outcome and take the part of the oppressed. Unfortunately there was a really obnoxious group of young people there who giggled through much of the improvisation, and I felt offended by the lack of regard for the plight of these women depicted in the play.
Mahjanok- Never Say Die" - Thailand. An exquisitely played piece about the survivors and saviors of the tsunami bookended by the myth of Mahajamok, a king who braved the ocean to follow his heart and was taken by an angel/goddess to heaven. I wept for these characters - both mythic and real.
Gotta go now. More later.
Cheers,
Kate