In the original text, characters in the novel enjoy gathering in a pavilion garden to consume river crabs and compose poems of flowers. In this contemporary theatre piece, Goh Boon Teck borrows the sense of vulnerability and decadency in Cao’s context to create a contradictory space where his original characters communicate and confront.
The newly created set of protagonists are five related women in a respectable household in Qing Dynasty, all ready to embrace each other’s wholesomeness as well as bringing one another down to ashes. During their preparation of a complex crab feast and creating metaphorical poems about Chrysanthemums and Begonia, we are enlightened by their multi-faceted world of morality, conspiracy and philosophy.
The pillar of sound for The Crab Flower Club will be Franz Liszt’s Symphonic Poem Les Preludes. This symphonic poem is a pure display of emotion, and subtle on depiction of messages and meanings. Liszt felt that the language of music could be cross-pollinated by other arts, such as poetry and painting. This symphonic poem was composed during the era of this play, the fusion brings sensitivity of the west into an oriental story. The music will be treated with contemporary sound design.
Video Art will also be incorporated in this production. Working closely with ink painter Hong Sek Chern, her LIVE painting will be projected to create the multiple changes of visuals on stage. As the leading female artist in Singapore, her powerful and sensitive visuals will provide extraordinary dimension to the play.
Performance Information
Performance Venue: Drama Centre
Dates: 03 - 05 June 2009 (Wed – Fri)
No. of shows: 3 shows
Duration: Approximately 90 mins - no intermission
Show time: 8PM
Language: English with Chinese subtitles
Ticket Prices: $50, $40, $30, $20
Ticket Agent: SISTIC hotline 63485555 or visit www.sistic.com.sg
1 comments:
Hong Sek Chern is the leading female artist in Singapore??? I hear Amanda Heng gearing up for a catfight!!!