Theatrical Production INDIA SONG

December 1, 2, 3 at 7:30 pm
Mann Hall
Trinity Campus, 208 Colchester Avenue, University of Vermont (click here for directions)

Ticket Information

Tickets $15, General Public, $10 UVM Students, Faculty, Staff (Available at the door, cash only.) Please note that there will be no late seating.

Duras first wrote India Song as a play, later re-imagined it as a radio-play, and finally transformed it into a film.  In effect, experiencing a theatrical performance of this unusual work is like listening to a score layered on a visual work that is choreographed.  There is no dialogue spoken on stage, all the language is over-heard.  Thus, the two realms often contradict one another and fail to sync, which was Duras’ intention and one of the methods she uses to challenge our assumptions about truth and authority in narrative. 

The piece wrestles with postcolonial dilemmas about migration, modernity and oppression: a Beggarwoman from Laos wails outside the French embassy in Calcutta, the disgraced Vice-Consul from Lahore has a breakdown after shooting at lepers in the Shalimar Gardens, and issues around colonial domination and cultural collision abound.  At this particular moment in history, when nation building and regime change are such pivotal subjects in international relations, Duras’ work seems prophetic.

This will be a site-specific staging of the work by Guest Artist, Rachel Perlmeter, with lighting designed by John Forbes, scenic design by Jeffrey Modereger and music by Patricia Julien

Audition Information

At the Workshop we will be exploring some of the techniques that will inform the rehearsal process for India Song, drawing on sources such as Viewpoints, Kantorian object work, Biomechanics, classical Indian dance, Brechtian gestus and sensual tectonics. We will also discuss Duras’ use of language and silence and the play’s unique structure and aesthetic.

We are seeking performers with an interest in experimental work to render the tragic grace of the European colonials and the tense relationship they have to the cacophonous Calcutta street and the South Asian context. The drama centers around the haunting wife of the French Ambassador in India and her lovers and contrasts the elite diplomatic realm with that of the Beggar Woman and the city denizens outside. We are looking for actors, dancers, as well as hybrid performers interested in testing the limits of realism and working as an ensemble. Those with proficiency in French or any South Asian languages are especially encouraged to apply, though this experience is not required.

A copy of the text is on reserve at the Bailey Howe Library at UVM and several loaning copies are available at the Theatre Department to check out. You can also find used copies of India Song online. It is strongly suggested that you read the play before auditions. Please come dressed to move and plan to arrive 15-20 minutes before your scheduled audition time to prepare. Sides will be provided at the audition, but in some cases you may have the option to also present a brief dramatic monologue in addition to reading from the text. After the ensemble movement work you will be called individually in sequence according to the sign-up sheet.

Scripts and sign-up sheets are available at the UVM Theatre or you may contact the director to schedule an appointment by e–mail.

Last modified November 16 2006 12:31 PM