2. Shadow Play
This performance was created and presented in Janie Geiser’s class, Transforming Text. We began the creative process through close study of material. Initially, we were drawn to the idea of projecting water, exploring the materiality of both the water and its container. Through experimentation - dripping, coloring, pouring, shaking, shaping, and refracting light - we discovered a series of compelling forms and abstract shadow compositions.
To connect these visual abstractions, we developed a narrative frame: the love story of the Sun and the Moon, a mythic tale woven through shifting shapes of water and light.
The script:
In the beginning, God created the sun and asked it to shine and so came the first day. And he created the moon and place it in the skies, and so came the second day. Every morning when the sun comes out, the birds or the skies and the trees of the forest would tell the sun tales of the pale beautiful moon. They would describe the gracefulness of her beauty and quietness of her silence. They would tell the sun how the moon pulls the ocean waves with just her presence and the sun would feel a sense of jealousy for without ever getting to meet the moon, he had fallen in love with her.
Then at night, the moon would come out and waves and fishes of the waters and all the creatures that come out at night would tell her about the magnificence of the sun. He he shines so bright during the day and his light pushes the shadows to the far corners of the earth. The would tell moon how yellow and bright the big sun and the moon would only dream of ever meeting the sun, for in her heart she had fallen in the sun.
So one day the sun not being satisfied with just stories of the moon went to creator and asked the creator to grant him a chance to meet the moon. If only day could extend so long it would meet the night. But the creator only responded, to everything there is a season. The sun was so disappointed that he covered his face and wet so hard. The first cloudy day and rain pour.
The moon also went to the creator and asked if only night could stay a bit longer to meet the day. But the creator only said, to everything there is season. The moon was so heart broken that, that night she split in two. The first half moon.
The two continue their daily routine. The sun the day, and moon at night. But a seed of rebellion was sown in their hearts. The sun had told the owl to tell the moon to stay a bit longer than usual for day plans to meet the night. The owl delivered the message. And the moon agreed. The two lovers finally met and like all forbidden love they cast a huge shadow over the earth, engulfing it in darkness, thus the first eclipse.
Title: The love story of the Sun and Moon
Concept: Eva Feng, Kobina Hagan
Visual: Eva Feng
Movement: Eva Feng
Fiddle player: Seamus Guy
Narrator: Kobina Hagan
Movement performer: Eva Feng, Brayden Lawrence