The avalanche-like intensification of this famous music has been represented in a variety of means by the choreographers. The conflict between the two men based on the modern stylization of the Spanish dance; one woman surrounded by several men; continuous corps de ballet lines… everything seems to have been tried. However, it is for the first time that the people confused and tied by the dark restraint strait jackets, seeing the determined and fast break-out of the free one, find so many ways to get out of there and try to move on their own way. Because everyone present is unique and beautiful. But what is the outcome? To become oneself is a difficult task, even with a strong endeavor and much energy.
The twenty minute long performance is pretty exhausting for the actors. They make tricky sophisticated lifts, run and shout, everyone has to carry or hold each other without pauses, except for the graceful free loner somehow finding time for a break. At some time, all of them together swiftly jump up, fall down, roll on their backs and instantly rise to jump up again, leaving the wet and moist traces of their sweaty backs on the floor. This is impressive.
According to the rules of the modern direction, every moment of the stage time should be filled with action, even before the music starts as well as after the music is over and the actors bow down to the audience. This is what the performance should finish with.
Premiered on the stage on October 3, 2007
Details of the playThe most poetic ballet in the theatrical repertoire, deeply philosophic and realistic at the same time. It is realistic in spite of no stage settings at all used in the performance, and the properties are restricted to one suitcase appearing for a couple of minutes on the stage and white umbrellas displayed for a few more minutes.
Neat hairdos or the hair hidden under the caps, cotton dresses with collars (becoming to all girls without exception!), or pants of the "before-jeans" era with suspenders…. Everything conveyed in "The Rain" dance may be taking place anywhere but in the certain decades. Perhaps, our grandmothers were very young at that time, while half of the world admired the beauty of our great grandmothers.
The life of that time flies fast like rewinding - unceasingly, orderly, like the meaningful and vigorous Bach preludes with fugues of "Well-Tempered Clavier". The people on the stage are divided into the male and the female groups showing interest in each other, everyone has to feel for his or her second half and support. From time to time, this course of events slows down and the separate pieces of music are introduced. Every time, it is a new, bright ethnic song representing a separate history of some couple, some trio, even an individual person in the crowd. By the way, this performance offers countless ways of choreographic problem solution, "a crowd has to be made of 18 people on the stage".
And though the vibrant soundtracks are the most exciting ones, it is better to slow down and feel the tenderness evinced by brother as he lulls his sister to sleep knowing that life will separate them at some point; the exhausting tension of the two men who are trying to win over the heart of the strong woman pursuing her own way; the patience, the playfulness and the quiet happiness. And in the end, as the individuality of all those people yields the life as such, it feels very hard to lose them.
Premiered on the stage on October 3, 2007
Details of the play--
