The project is to develop two classic plays with the creative team of writer Ivo Mosley, director Simon Usher and designer Anthony Lamble. Both plays are based on the legend of Faust, that quintessential modern man with his insatiable appetite for knowledge, experience and power. The idea is that as our own civilization becomes more monstrous, we may learn something from a culture that was all but subsumed in its progress.
The first play is Jacob Gordin’s God, Man and Devil, translated into English by Nahma Sandrow. We want to play this on alternate nights with a new version of Goethe’s Faust. By doing this, we wish to explore the lost world of Yiddish culture and to contrast its fundamentally moral and religious world-ethic with the rationalist/materialist world-ethic of post-Enlightenment Europe.
Gordin was a contemporary of Ibsen and Chekhov, and he deals with the same issues in a different, fundamentally humanitarian way. History has almost obliterated his memory, but during his lifetime his plays packed theatres in Europe, Russia and the United States. We hope the production will overlap the 100th anniversary of his death (June 11 1909): i.e. we are aiming for a production in June/July 2009.
The Creative Team:
Simon Usher, Director.
Anthony Lamble, Designer.
Ivo Mosley, Dramaturg/Producer.
Simon Usher, Director.
Anthony Lamble, Designer.
Ivo Mosley, Dramaturg/Producer.
DEVELOPMENTS:
On 24th September 2008 a presentation at Wilton's Music Hall was attended by an invited audience of 80.
Ten actors under the direction of Simon Usher, three musicians and the singer Rachel Rose Reid presented scenes from the two plays and Yiddish songs.
It was agreed that the evening was a magical success. From the audience:
Rosie Boycott, 'It was such a great evening... I really loved it and would love to see the plays at full length... very thought provoking and moving.'
David Gothard, 'The Yiddish play God, Man and the Devil is a revelation and we must do everything to make sure your project succeeds.'
We now see our major task as integrating music and drama in both plays. In the case of the Gordin, we are approaching experts in the tradition of Yiddish theatre for guidance. As a result of the evening, we have the support of Geraldine Auerbach and the Jewish Music Institute. We are also taking advice from Nahma Sandrow on musical content.
We are in negotiation with Wilton's Music Hall and with two other theatres about where the show will be put on next year... watch this space!
(Date of this entry: October 6th 2008)
Wilton's Music Hall
Click below to play 'Rozhinkes Mit Mandeln' performed by Rachel Rose Reid and Miranda Harris. Original performance at Wiltons Music Hall.
