Re: RAT Presenting Ritual that is Theater-Based

[Barbara Labinger <bel4@earthlink.net>]

Delurking to say hi, all ("hi, all"), and that the idea of a consciously
ritualistic theater piece sounds potentially very exciting. I am also very
interested in the connection between spirituality and theatre (actually, I
think that connection is always there, however faint or hidden).

As laid out so far, the plan sounds very Artaudian.  JMHO: I'm not sure
Dionysian frenzy is as rare an experience for your average person in the
street as it was back in the day (or even Judith Malina's day for that
matter).  Like, this:

>>assemble a large group of people who have no idea what they are about to
>>witness... encircle them. present theritual. blast drums, spontaneously
>>dance. have many rituals all at once...nobody is sure what is happening
>>and
nothing seems to be going on at that moment.

could be a piece of political street theatre that coalesces into an
incredible group catharsis; and it could also be Saturday night at Twilo.
Or a rock concert.  Which isn't to say that the chaotic impulse isn't still
a valid one--these events wouldn't be as popular as they are if they didn't
fulfill some inchoately felt need; it's just that, after umpteen years of
postmodern overload, people are going to be in a real "show me" state if
you try to present your bacchanal as anything more profound than sense
candy.

>...the hard part is dancing around the people who will desperately try to
create a semblance of order so they can come to a safe
mental projection of "what is happening."

But of course they're going to want a semblance of order.  Your
audience--whatever the context--needs to know that it's safe before it can
follow you to whatever dark or dazzling place you want to take them.   I
had more to say about that, but I think Amy covered it.

>fool them.

to me, sounds less like a consensually agreed-upon "bungee jump" than one
person shoving another off the plane.  How do you feel about your audience?
What are you offering these people?  What do you think they have to offer
you?

>some rituals involve the mere suggestion that the space is divided into
quadrants, each with its own principles and auras and atmosphere...

see, I think that right there, alone, has the makings of a terrific
workshop.  I'm taking a Viewpoints class right now, and all we've worked on
this week has been spatial relationships: shapes, movement, kinasthenic
awareness.  The idea that the room itself has something to say; the idea
that the "negative space," the space *between* the people, is alive.  For
me, there is the beginning of spirituality in this already.  I would love
to see if and how occult teachings might fit into the actor/director's
training.






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