Difference between revisions of "Lilith"
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
==The original text== | ==The original text== | ||
| − | The text | + | The text written by [[Reza de Wet]], and the performance created by Gordon and the cast, are based on the story of Adam and the mythical character "Lilith", according to Jewish folklore Adam's first wife, who betrays Adam. |
| − | The text inverts the traditional version of the original story to make Adam the betrayer | + | The text inverts the traditional version of the original story to make Lilith the vengeful betrayed one and Adam the betrayer. The work thus opens with what may be construed as the thematic motto for the play: |
"Beautiful Lilith, so they say, forlorn and betrayed by her husband, Adam, went away to live under the sea until, on a black night, hanging hard to the dark with her hands, and pushing against it with her feet, Lilith gave birth to the moon." (De Wet, 1998) | "Beautiful Lilith, so they say, forlorn and betrayed by her husband, Adam, went away to live under the sea until, on a black night, hanging hard to the dark with her hands, and pushing against it with her feet, Lilith gave birth to the moon." (De Wet, 1998) | ||
Revision as of 10:32, 30 June 2018
Lilith is a collaborative danceplay by Gary Gordon and Reza de Wet (1952-2012).
Contents
The original text
The text written by Reza de Wet, and the performance created by Gordon and the cast, are based on the story of Adam and the mythical character "Lilith", according to Jewish folklore Adam's first wife, who betrays Adam.
The text inverts the traditional version of the original story to make Lilith the vengeful betrayed one and Adam the betrayer. The work thus opens with what may be construed as the thematic motto for the play:
"Beautiful Lilith, so they say, forlorn and betrayed by her husband, Adam, went away to live under the sea until, on a black night, hanging hard to the dark with her hands, and pushing against it with her feet, Lilith gave birth to the moon." (De Wet, 1998)
According to Praeg (2018), in exploring this theme the work "seeks to evoke an archaic and archetypal underworld", while simultaneously contemporising the narrative through a courtroom scene where a modern couple are engaged in divorce proceedings.
The text of the script and a description of the work (by Juanita Finestone-Praeg) has been published in Physical Intelligence Volume 1: Experiments in Physical Theatre (First Physical Theatre Company, 2002).
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1998: Performed by the
Sources
Juanita Finestone-Praeg. 2002. Physical Intelligence Volume 1: Experiments in Physical Theatre. Grahamstown: First Physical Theatre Company.
Juanita Praeg. 2018. "Drifting: Reminiscing. Remembering. Reinventing. Reza" (Draft manuscript, courtesy of the author.)
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays
Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays
Return to PLAYS III: Collections
Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances
Return to South African Festivals and Competitions
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
