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5/1/1975 - Pups and Imago by Kenneth Cavander

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS KC Pupa Imago Humphrey Street New Haven Connecticut 06511 Mr Richard H Nolte May Ist Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York NY 10017 Dear Mr Nolte In newsletter I mentioned aspect month exploring implications sacred round precinct metaphor certain kinds situations This isolated instance number techniques tryin contin effort traditional methods altering conscious through ceremonies action common contemporary theatrical forms expressing contemporary needs apirations touch these niques newsletter putting perspective describe further development project based Arthurian legends which I began which stage production St Clements New York City June When I March group actors after experience February public showing Newsletter I brouFht workshop elaborate texts Whereas before I dealing direct suggestion esture action create immediate sharp effect I wanted offer actors something subtle something would stimulate their imaginations direction assuming characters enacting short pieces narrative entering situations could develop improvised inter connecting series images One these concepts based which I explored methodical BOCCACCIO This masks aspects personality split psychic contents Newsletter In BOCCACCIO present Kenneth Cavander Institute Fellow exploring theatrical Dresent mythologies capacities transformation audience microcosm society This I wanted explore possibilities using slightly different So objective I actors starting BOCCACCIO characters which could easily familiar because aspects their natures I wanted characters vivid representing actor would hardly acting audience would which person which The would masks names finding wherever appro priate everyday mythology clown anywhere Ultimately I wanted these character masks become recurring figures collective dream world Stories would gather around They could reappear different historical various disguises One arrive these characters investigate metaphorical possibilities certain situations One tightrope In walking along tight actor merely performing simple piece pantomime style Marcel Marceau He allow action walking across problems posed become metaphor other activities situations For example walking across tight person independently remain fixed bridge something linking opposites states zones present maybe learn doing learn performing following programmed instructions straight narrow achieve balance abyss How person dealt these problems would reveal character attitude moral stance Another image fisherman which person patience invisible depths adversary fight itself exhaustion looks somethingcan draws things below light In fisherman situation might become metaphor relationship between people where fisherman other We objects whole natural substance The exercise required actors imagine substance various stages creation hands carpenter forest possible incarnations before reached present shape In another exercise I portion Demeter Persephone which basis dramatic Eleusinian mysteries ancient Greece related Egyptian mysteries Isis beginning story takes place meadow where young Persephone picking flowers She comes Narcissus As bends pluck earth opens black chariot drawn black horses driven Pluto God Death clatters sunlight Pluto carries Persephone Hades meadow deserted again The story continues Demeter Persephone mother discover daughter kidnap searching earth The objective taking fragment story discover events linear fashion We found ourselves choosing central point image radiating In image flower picked narcissus associations absorption sleep death Eventuallythe narrative spiral The effect stand still event seemed happening eternal present Through these similar rcises I already described newsletter space reached point where actors I ourselves loose confines separate often thematically unrelated experiments something extended As approaching I would attention production LEGENDS OF ARTHIIR decided conclude phase intensive marathon session spread three For period ourselves create series impro vised narratives using triggering image concept previous lives None convictiosabout reincarnation various theories karma currently circulation The previous lives simply metaphor which enabled apply number devices working weeks particular device masks which I mentioned shifting cinematic effect scenes dissolving another which I described Newsletter The result series elaborate improvisations which lasted which actors sustain remarkably consistent level coherent dialogue action changes They always introduced group ceremonial actions built around image tightrope which served connection between whatever previous actor imagining himself herself visiting Having arrived vious actor others assumed specific character which adjusted which became focus whatever drama place This process repeated again different actors taking journey while tried various organizing surroundings mental which approached event The inter esting heartening result paration previous weeks The length improvisations could great temptation indulgence meandering But because actors working consciously structuring their perce ptions concentrating interrelated themes hadeen enlisting their dreams process images surfaced remarkably coherent interest contrived narrative ought The difference course no__t contrived spontaneous actors position being performers spectators their dramas Exactly position person dream Except awake That statement ought qualified Awake relative state there times seemed constantly shifting kaleidoscope images trance effect This somethin consciously striven itself moments found ourselves state seemed suspended animation The content these improvisations would several thousands words reproduce In general reflected variety recurring characters situations verbal allusions following themes discovery secret sometimes represented which allowed sometimes sound person could other times presence messenger unknown country encounters between stranger balanced characters female access special powers might teach stranger search small sometimes referred spirit ghost found might moment exist drama within drama demonstrate something visitor always mocking disconcerting desert wasteland readiness right kairos When discussing results certain points agreed everyone The important these subjective experience entering alternate thinking rigid response events impossible performer become fluid nature experience endless possibilities opened feeling refreshing liberating In sense initiatory effect I found significant cause objective experience similar seemed towards making possible share experience between performers audience without making audience through preparations performers submit themselves Another comment spent working isolated pieces technique consciousness altering devices necessary should expanded movement towards complex themes situations hadbeen right Someone pointed previous workshops exploring alienaion exists society finding images translating personal statements latest experiments begun towards reintegration Big words For I would simply events weeks leading marathon session training period perormers which learnt trust their creative impulses liberated their imaginations sufficient allow yield their store archetypal mythic images always expressed course personal In images revolved around matter quest alternate state being feels search secret knowledge means initiated There seems definite survival value ility psychic process The becomes adaptable supple categories broken small events would disregard insignificant become incorporated larger pattern I always echoes particular project begin their press television spate publications simply conversations people I I collecting these omens months perhaps I extract newslettsoon being enough refer particular organized movement almost slyly surreptiously references importance fantasy dreaming endipitous logic creeping media popular folklore It question revival culture think leftover Consciousness III sober recognition healing mpensatory effects these cesses moment history Meanwhile I collect stories variety sources I these ories possible applying results weeks their presentation With I should starting July For weeks until June I rewriting directing showcase production LEGENDS OF ARTHUR which I first sketch Williamstown See Newsletters The reason taken version light shortly after showing Will iamstown ARTHUR selected projects presented Theatre St Clements better Broadway showcase theatres series Musical Theatre Lab oratory workshops sponsored Stuart Ostrow Foundation Stuart Ostrow Broadway producer T Apple Tree P ippi_n trying encourage innovative experimental musical theatre There advantages becoming series especially production Because assoication Stuart Ostrow FoundationSt Clements could offer larger production budget usually avail showcase As learnt could learnt shoestring operation Williamstown important presented enough resources experience forward An additional advantage Muscial Theatre Lab invite critics which theoretically takes great pressure So having accepted situation became series series until wrote summer about Williams In newsletters I production I synopsized stories related technical problems trying solve synthesized music narrative conventions Since I thought about develop material lhave further problems revealed selves result previous production The pressing these What audience watching A recreation historical period A complete fiction Modern actors telling anxious avoid suggestion stories Or I costume drama sense CAMELOT Nor I presenting sciously distanced bunch actors telling these stories In course thinking about problem others related I notes myself which passed designer other people involved production Here excerpts The stories challenges probes games reveal strengths weaknesses Those playing games pared every challenge whenever offered whatever They rules because there rules their success failure sense See stories series obstacle courses ordeals trials mettle group people something about themselves remind themselves standards The stories remember GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT which Green Knight challenges anyone dares return allowing Green Knight hence LANCELOT KNIGHT OF THE CART which Lancelot follow Guinevere mysterious kingdom reached crossing sword bridge where kidnapped BALIN AND BALAN about brothers BALIN acquires miraculous sword refuses although causes nothing disaster causes brother The always Death coming variety disguises This single though infinite variations Death number forms Death assumes wills order entrap confuse Knight What knight A knight ideal He masks Gawain Lancelot Balin Put touch power particular ideal And enact deeds knight invoke power gathers around magnetic field One person chooses assume Challenger someone chooses accept challenge whereupon everyone joins Story adventure creating obstacles constantly changing situations crises according rules story Game adventure Initiations Adventures played initiation ceremonies The people testing other testing themselves So characters stories Gawain Balin Lancelot individual characters personal histom incarnations different meeting supreme challenge They human masks assumed players which determine react moment moment He Balin destined certain reacting events which certain results which But Balin suitable specific temperament moral point There Gawain Lancelot Agravaine Part working piece strip trivial sentimental associations characters trate essence individual knights What stellation human traits attitudes constitutes Lancelot distinct Balin recognise The uncover hidden beneath romance As changes ARTHUR directly spring This affects physical production character Merlin about which I newsletter Meanwhile antidote I suggesting everyone visit MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL Sincerely Kenneth Cavander The title newsletter refers cycle insect which I often parallels cycle works In experiments referred first newsletter pupal stage ARTHUR about become imago mature representative species Received New York May