Eight songs for a mad president
Faustian legends, mad kings, and … a university president?
And you thought Hollywood was unreal.
Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 25, “A Soldiers Tale” and “Eight Songs for a Mad King” will take center stage in an unprecedented combination of talent which includes actors, musicians, dancers, artists in an exciting collaboration of the art, music, and theatre arts departments at USU.
“This is different from anything that the music and theatre arts departments have done in a long time,” said Amber Rolfe who plays Fanny in “Eight Songs for a Mad King.” “It is weird and thought-provoking.”
Receiving more than the usual presidential seal of approval, Wednesday night’s performance will also feature a special twist: President Hall himself.
President Hall, who will be onstage in 18th century costume singing and dancing with the rest of the performers, will portray a keeper of King George III’s animals in “Eight Songs for a Mad King.”
Though he will miss the performances on Thursday and Saturday, President Hall is excited for his role in the event.
“I hope [my participation] will draw a little attention,” Hall said. “People view Utah State as kind of ‘up there in Cache Valley with a lot of cows walking around.’ Actually, we have a strong culture of music theater, and art.”
Mark Wayne who plays the doctor in “Eight Songs for a Mad King,” said that he was uptight when he first began to work with President Hall.
“I was relieved to know that President Hall had a sense of humor,” Wayne said, “It has been a unique experience to work with someone like him.”
“President Hall learned the dances substantially faster that I did,” added John Belliston, the narrator in “The Soldier’s Tale.”
The program will begin with “L ‘Histoire du Soldat (The Soldier’s Tale)” which is a multi-disciplinary work “meant to be read, played, and danced.”
Taking its plot from the Faustian legend, the piece tells the story of a soldier who, upon returning from a discouraging war, meets the devil who offers him a magic book in exchange for his violin.
The soldier, swayed by his flattery, accepts the devils gift, but upon realizing that he is left bankrupt in love, tricks the devils in a card game, returns his wealth, and breaks the spell. However, in the end, he follows the same path he took in the beginning and the devil is triumphant.
“The story deals with the power of choice and its consequences,” said conductor Sergio Bernal. “The message is presented in a light and humorous manner, but is actually quite deep and serious.”
This 65 minute chamber ensemble work was composed by Stravinsky and written by Ramuz in an era following World War I. As such it is a true interdisciplinary combining instrumental music, dance and acting in a single work.
Belliston, the narrator of “The Soldier’s Tale”, believes that it takes two things to get inside the head of his character: “A loose grip on reality and a highly, highly, repressed god complex.”
The projects second piece, “Eight Songs for a Mad King,” is based in the interesting history of “mad” King George III and his efforts to teach his caged bullfinches to sing.
Taken from the poems of Randolph Stow, the text was suggested by the organ tunes themselves. According to director and choreographer Artemis Preeshl, “the songs are to be understood as the King’s monologue while listening to his birds perform.”
Preeshl also said that both “The Soldier’s Tale” and “Eight Songs for a Mad King” require extensive cooperation and communication between everyone involved.
“Each department is using exceptionally talented individuals for every aspect of the piece,” she said. “Students from all the departments are on display here.”
“The collaboration breaks up one’s preconceptions because there is nothing that one can grasp as being solid,” Bellison said. “Everything in both shows if fluid.”
The program with take place on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 7:30 in the Morgan Theatre of the Chase Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $5 with USU students admitted free with ID. For more information call (801) 797-1500.