|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 19 January 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Magazine |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
by Farah Macan Markar
A presentation of the Centre for Performing Arts(CPA) together with the Landvolk Theatre Halsbach(LTH) from Germany, the show, had for the first time ever in Sri Lanka, come out with "Black Theatre". The use of a special light to create optical illusions in the darkness, as described above. "Peace be to the Earth and Air. Peace be to Heaven. Peace to the Waters. By this invocation of Peace, May Peace bring Peace. May Peace bring Peace. May Peace bring Peace", speaks a voice as a Tamil dancer unravels a scroll having danced onto the centre. This being done, after the German Peace songs, the show gets on its way. "White Flowers" a story about forbidden love, begins to the music of Swan Lake, in which, two segments of society walk along the stage, careful to keep to its own side, not even giving a glance at the other. One man and woman however, venture to do so, and the inevitable happens. They fall in love. The world stands still for a moment for these two (literally as well, for everyone else on stage freezes), as they try to make out the other. Their eyes fall simultaneously on a white flower which lies a little ahead. They look at each other, then at the flower, smile, go towards the flower, pick it up and cross the forbidden, invisible line. They meet in the middle, exchange flowers and show their different worlds to one another, while simultaneously, becoming lost in a world of their own. This world however, is soon broken. The wind, which had come to a standstill a moment ago, blows in fury. The music changes to staccato. The frozen figures emerge from their static positions, pointing their fingers, one by one, each and everyone, at the two lovers. The lovers are blown apart, torn apart, as these two segments of society unite together, for the only thing they do unitedly-build walls, building a spiky wall in the middle separating the woman and the man. The two lovers try to reach out to the other across this wall to no avail. It is firmly built. Resigned to their fate they press their white flowers to their faces, trying to recapture the fragrance of the other.
They drop the stem to the floor. Seeing them do so the others walk slowly each to their own turning their heads in scorn, discarding them for what they did and walk away. The lovers are the last to leave looking despairingly into the others eyes, pulling themselves way. A spot of Black Theatre follows in which the two strings left by the lovers shine luminously, lift themselves up and dance about as on their own to the music, symbolic perhaps of the suppressed passion, despair and turmoil of emotions of the previous scene. The next item is "Invisible wall". A story of War and Peace. Of human lives. Human failures and strengths. In accordance to the music Sinhalese and Tamils (as they are really) dance across the stage here and there, working harmoniously together. They seem happy, smiles across their faces as they do various tasks, with optimism, in peace. This state however, is soon disturbed. A storm is brewing and even these people working so happily, can sense the gathering of the clouds. But they don't know from where. The music changes to a threatening mood, booming in from everywhere. The people huddle closer to each other, moving from this end to the other, in fear, doubt and ignorance. And the storm does come. A storm called WAR (shown through a figure draped fully in black). War comes into play getting its weapons from POWER. It swipes about the people causing destruction, death, injury, pain and sorrow. Inspite of it all however, these people don't give up. In moments of respite they pull themselves together trying their best to lead normal lives.
What happens next is a scene of rejoicing and happiness. The mothers, children, wives and girlfriends prepare themselves for the return of their men. New sarees are worn and hair combed. The men come and everyone rejoices. There is a lot of singing, dancing and clapping.After another round of songs by the Germans, there follows a "Dance of Joy" in which the Germans together with the Sinhalese and Tamils all come on stage and dance their own dances together, showing unity, acceptance and happiness. Next is an East plus West Dance in which two tamil dancers dance to the music of a western music piece, blending a little bit if the east with the west. "Dream box" follows and the show ends up with everyone singing together "We Want Peace" the theme of the whole show. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
Just imagine seeing glowing pieces of string dancing about as if they
had come to life and were doing a merry jig in pitch darkness. What seemed
to be purplish blue butterflies (really two hands) flutter about in the
night. Luminous hands appear everywhere in the darkness, dancing to the
music of the ABBA hit "Waterloo", with a huge reddish mouth
standing, as if on its own in the darkness, singing the song. And finally
a clothes' line, turned into a luminous string man, dancing and singing
"Lollipop". Yup, it all happened in "Dream Box", held
at the Bishop's College Auditorium, on January 6 2002. Sorry. 2003!
To hold something of the other in them and at the same time, pulling at
its petals in despair, unravelling it, letting its long ribbon fall,
holding onto the stem turning it round and round them in a mad haze,
knowing everything between them is over. Impossible.
War finally gets them though. This is shown through a big black banner
spelling out the word-War in blood red placing itself in front of the
people, pushing them further behind, making them cower. Thin wavering
hands reaching out upwards, begging for help, is all that can be seen.
Reporters come in, take pictures, scribble down notes and go out. Sensing
there is no one to really help them, these Sinhalese and Tamils get up on
their own, go to the other side and together pull pieces of the banner
out. It is a struggle, but they don't give up, pulling it to the very end,
until it reveals a white dove spreading out its wings in a clear blue sky,
with the proclamation "We want Peace".
