On July 11th, I went to NY to see “Miroku” by Saburo Teshigawara. The dance was beautiful – his use of the body was amazing and the whole production was highly sophisticated with a well-thought out lighting which he also designed. I was mezmerized about what was happening on stage for the first 10 minutes. The lighting slowly shifted from one place to another. He was just standing and sensing the place where he was. The mystery drew me in. After this initial exploration, he kept dancing as if some outer force had possessed him. I did feel some sort of spirituality and a man’s struggle. But somehow, I kept being disengaged. It was as if I were witnessing this whole journey that was happening in a white box on display. It could be because I was sitting rather far away from the stage. Stunning images were constantly created with dynamically changing lights. At one time, layers of blue light covered the whole white box and he looked like he was in a deep water. At another point, small negative spaces kept opening up on the wall and on the floor, creating portals to escape or enter. Sound generally supported the actions on stage and the simple costume was in line with the concept. He was such a virtuoso in his movements – connected with every bit of his body. But somehow, after seeing the performance, I felt a little unsatisfied. I had lost a sense of him and the place. It wasn’t dangerous. Maybe I was searching for something else. Something beyond dance. Something beyond art. This question generates another very important question – what am I seeking in a performance? A life-changing experience? New perspective? Or assurance of existing value of mine? Sense of being alive? If a performance can evoke a new beginning of a long lasting search, that would be powerful.
07/17/2010 at 4:52 AM |
It’s a good reviwe of Miroku. I am thinking why we do theater, what’s the theater for?
Yesterday I watched a TV program, a young actress had a trouble about speaking. Her angent told her, “when you talked on the stage, you need to LISTEN what you said. When you LISTEN yourself, your audience also listen what you said, and then you have connection with audience.”
I think Miroku was same problem. he lose attraction from me. He danced in his world. As an audience, I need something to attract me, or to touch my heart.
I think that’s what theater for, for touching spectators’ hearts. Something in me with same vibration to the stage.