The Saint Plays
The press release of "The Saint Plays" states that this new
work, still in development, "examines the true meaning of faith, the
strength of individual will, and the power that is possible when
faith and free will combine."
Written by playwright Erik Ehn (educator, contemporary theorist,
and Dean of Theatre at the California Institute of the Arts) in
collaboration with director Justine D'Zmura and the Cal Rep Company,
its goal is to be a modern meditation on the lives of the saints.
At the core of the play, the question seems to be: Regardless of
when and where they lived, how did the saints justify the cruel
atrocities of the real world (sin, injustice and brutality) with
their concepts of faith, devotion, redemption, salvation and free
will?
With that in mind, we were geared up for another provocative Cal
Rep experience. What else would one expect from a work about Saint
Joan of Arc, St. Rose of Lima, St. George (the dragon slayer), St.
Barbara, and Saint Dymphna--the last segment being a world premiere
addition written especially for Cal Rep?
To quote Cal Rep's artistic director Joanne Gordon: "As artists
we strive to create something of significance that embodies our
ideals as we make our art. We do not always succeed...our creations
may fail...but our commitment remains unwavering."
Can you imagine our surprise when we take our seats and see that
the playbill is covered with rows of red and white Campbells Soup
cans with the saints names printed on them? Shades of Andy Warhol!
Perhaps this will be a conceptual take on contemporary pop culture.
Or a post-Modernist reassessment of religious fervor.
Then the play begins and voices in many languages seem to be
chanting, "May all that you are flow into me." Bells start to ring
and drum-beats strike in rhythm as the cast parades on stage through
the deep sand of Staci Walters' set, augmented by Don Ishler's
dramatic lighting and Chris Kittrell's sound design.
Suddenly, similar to the way spells are cast by the poetry of
Paul Verlaine and Stephane Mallarme, the audience seems to be
transported into the mysterious realm of 19th-century Symbolism--or
the haunting terrain of the pre-Raphaelites.
Through the use of words and visual imagery for their symbolic
meaning, the Cal Rep ensemble dramatizes the tragic lives of the
saints in five highly theatrical scenes. Nothing should be taken
literally or only at face value. In stead, each sequence,
statement, song, image, or vignette may have a variety of meanings,
depending on how individuals in the audience interpret them.
The cast is so large and the members play so many roles it's
impossible to give individual credits. This work is
definitely a collaborative effort, one where each actor is equally
important in achieving its success.
The first segment, "Wholly Joan's," is probably the most
accessible since almost everyone knows the legend of Joan of Arc.
The second, "Rose of Lima" takes place in El Salvador where life was
so brutal and repressive that witnesses are unable to speak. "The
Freak (St. George)" has some light comical moments in it, but even
here there is unbelievable cruelty. In fact, all of the tales are
testaments to unconditional faith on the part of unwavering true
believers.
"Radio Elephant (Saint Barbara)" and "Color Drum (Dymphna)" have
so many abstract symbols, metaphors and references that the audience
may be overwhelmed. The former has magnetic impulses, transistor
radios, elephant heads, decapitations and streams of blood. The
latter has birds, bells, doves, turtles, rain-clouds, rainbows,
wings, blood and a dead baby--not to mention barren desert crossings.
At various times I was reminded of improvisation theater, "free
association," and the paste-pot poetry of Apollinaire. But then
that's my visceral reaction. And since there are myriad ways to
respond to "The Saints" (and no right or wrong), everyone in the
audience is entitled to his or her interpretation.
There are two things we can agree on: Cal Rep is an asset to our
community, and "no risk, no art."
Where: Cal Rep at the Armory, 854 E. 7th St. at Alamitos, Long Beach
When: Tues.-Thurs, 7 pm; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm; through March 15.
Tickets: $20, general; $17, students with ID; $15, seniors;
Information: (562) 985-5526 or www.calrep.org