~* Aangel of Hope *~: Richard Strauss' SALOME... Esplanade Theatre

My First Theatre Performance ~
* Richard Strauss' SALOME *

Richard Strauss' - SALOME
Esplanade Theatre, Singapore
19-20, 22-23th August 2011

SYNOPSIS

King Herod's Palace in Judea. Herod's Captain of the Guard, Narraboth, lusts after the king's stepdaughter Salome. From the cistern where he is imprisoned comes the voice of Jokanaan (John the Baptist) denouncing the marriage of Herod and Herodias as incestuous, and prophesying the coming of the Messiah.

Princess Salome, who is thrilled by the sound of his voice, persuades Narraboth to let her see him. Jokanaan is brought up from the cistern. To the prophet's disgust she sings of her physical longing for him. In frustration, Narraboth kills himself and Jokanaan urges Salome to repent and seek salvation. He returns to his cell as Herod, Herodias and their guests arrive.

Herod, who also desires Salome, begs her to dance for him; when she refuses, he offers her anything she wants. She finally agrees. After her DANCE OF THE SEVEN VEILS, she asks Herod for the head of Jokanaan. Herodias is delighted but Herod begs her to change her mind. Salome is adamant and finally Herod agrees.

Jokanaan is executed and his head is brought up from the dungeon by the executioner. Taking the head in both hands, Salome sings an extended scene - finally kissing the head's bloody lips. Herod is horrified and orders Salome to be killed.

The Performance BEGINS...

Salome - Janice Watson

King Herod - Hubert Francis

Herodias - Bernadette Cullen

Jokanaan - Dawid Kimberg

Narraboth - Kota Murakami

Page - Anna Koor

First Jew - Melvin Tan

Second Jew - Raymond Lee Pei Khoon

Third Jew - Ruben Aldea

Fourth Jew - Antoine Garth

Fifth Jew - Brent Allcock

First Nazarene - Martin Ng

Second Nazarene - Reuben Lai

First Soldier - William Lim

Second Soldier - Huang Rong Hai

A Cappadocian - Martin Ng

A Slave Girl - Su Yi Wen

Director - Andrew Sinclair

Conductor - Peter Selwyn

Assistant Conductor - Timothy Carey
Set Designer - Justin Hill

Costume Designer - Phylia Poh

Lighting Designer - Lim Yu-Beng

Choreographer - Gani Karim

A message from Gani Karim

Richard Strauss's Salome based on Oscar Wilde's take of the story of how a young 18 year old girl's obsession and unbridled love/lust led to the beheading of John the Baptist. Call it a study in necrophilia, obsessive love/lust, or what have you, the music of Strauss is complex, dark and filled with layers of meanings that's opened to many interpretations. My task in this production was to choreograph the iconic "Dance of The 7 Veils". In my interpretation, the 6 male dancers are her shadows or alter-egos, the "man" in her so to speak, or her inner-demons, for she had to find her existence in a patriarchal society where women are usually seen as objects - their refined and elegant movements slowly degenerate into more animal-like energy/gestures towards the end of the 9 min dance, while Salome starts off totally covered in layers of clothes n masks that her appearance seemed almost grotesque n formless, and in the process of pealing off these layers she becomes more still, more desireable, more seductive, n more vulnerable as the entire court hold their breath in lustful/detached/disgusted anticipation as some of them chew and bite into their food and fruits more lasciviously; and in the end of the dance as she removes the final piece above the cistern (where John the baptist was imprisoned n looking up at her...) while the male dancers gyrate n reverberate orgasmically like flickering fire surrounding her, she is at once totally naked and vulnerable, and yet her most powerful as she held the whole court twisted round her finger.. she will get her desire fulfilled..! (How much would one go to quench one's Appetite?) Still I was careful that this is just the foreplay before the final scene where she holds and sings to the severed head of John close to her...

The story had strong biblical undertones of course, and i dare say I've been blessed to be able to work with the best. Janice Watson as Salome was my immediate inspiration, I merely bounced off her energy during rehearsals, while the male dancers were my muses that made my work easy and flowed from an otherworldly source as if an Invisible Hand was guiding me throughout. I barely planned, I merely responded to the performers and especially the music.... I have been touched by Inspiration, once again...

Salome's Attendants * Charlene Poh, Aangel Tracy

Herodias's Attendants * Matilda Chua, Irishrose CP Mayo

Herod's Attendants * Leo Narendra Putra, Edwin Cruz