Alexander's Idea - Fikra-T-Iskander
by Christof Wackernagel
Location: Theatre Sabrata, Libya.
On each of the three floors in the background, four scenes surrounded
by pillars tower up, beneath lies the narrow stage, in front the orchestra
in a semicircle.
Prologue on stage, spoken in Arabic, (for instance by Mouna Wasif):
"More than two thousand years ago, about the time this theatre has
been built, a man named Alexander lived. He is widely known as "The
Great", the conqueror and warrior. But this man had a dream that
is almost forgotten today:
He wanted to conciliate various religions to one, a religion of tolerance
and love. He wanted to combine the different kinds of culture to one tremendous
variety of science, arts and the joy of living. He wanted to turn different
nations into one united mankind. Until today, his dream has not been realized."
In seven of the twelve scenes, actors appear one after another. Each
of them speaks, sings, prays an elegy (text on application).
On stage an African dancer appears, performing a classical African dance
that shall banish the bad spirits and destroy the mourners. In the orchestra,
an African drum orchestra starts to drum.
The actors leave their scenes.
A French dancer, an Italian dancer and a German performer join the African
dancer - a new dance will arise, that combines classical elements and
new forms showing a positive future.
In the orchestra, other musicians from different countries (Embryo Band)
will join the rhythm of the African drum orchestra.
From different entrances next to the audience and from the stage aside,
the seven actors appear again - shouting, laughing, singing, exulting
in different languages of the world:
"We are one World-We are one mankind-We are one."
One by one they reach the stage and accompany the dancers. They come
by to sing, to hum, to pray the concert-pitch "A", related to
"OM". The dancers join into this Bordun, the musicians improvise
on the concert-pitch (sitar, flute, bagpipes, violin, lyra, piano, etc)
until everything merges into a tremendous crescendo.
Christof Wackernagel - February 2001
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