Theatre Yugen presents "Cordelia"

Jubilith Moore as Cordelia, with musicians Sheila Berotti, Polly Moller, and Anna Wray



Theatre of Yugen's "Cordelia" is a stunning Noh adaptation by playwright Erik Ehn of Shakespeare's "King Lear" as told by from his exiled daughter Cordelia's viewpoint, from the other world.  The production is directed by Jubilith Moore who is powerful and mesmerizing as Cordelia.  Moore, the Artistic Director, has been with the company since 1993 and has acted in many of their productions.

Wearing a hand-carved mask created by Hideta Kitazawa, a second generation woodcarving artist from Tokyo, Jubilith as Cordelia, descends slowly down a ramp behind a scrim.  Her costume is an elaborate creation by Risa Lenore Andeson Dye, reminiscent of Victorian England of lace and silk, with enormous puffy lace sleeves; she wears a braided, bright copper wig, beneath a headress.   Jubilith's movements are accompanied by the haunting sounds composed by Suki O'Kane: Polly Moller on a western style silver alloy flute on which she plays a classic shakhachi piece; she also plays a larger flute and an instrument that sounds like a kazoo.  Her sounds are backed up by Sheila Berrotti on Shruti box (a kind of small, portable one-note accordion), and Anna Wray, on piccolo snare.  Both Berotti and Wray also chant. During the play, the three musicians in dark, simple dress, sit upstage silently in front of the scrim, on their haunches, in shadow save for when the lights pick them up.
True to Noh and Butoh theatre, the actors' movements range from extreme, almost imperceptible, to rapid and startling, especially when accentuated by Wray's sharp, unexpected raps on the snare.  Moore recites lines adapted from "Lear" in a low, guttural, stylistic Noh voice as she tells the tale of her relationship with her father and sisters, Goneril and Regan. Through the mask, her voice is at times difficult to hear, especially if one is not familiar with note-bending lyrics of this type of theatre.  Still, one hears enough, plus halfway through the seventy-five - - give or take - - minutes of the piece, The Fool enters carrying a barrel and a fan, and interacts with the audience.  The Fool is effectively portrayed by agile, Spanish native, Lluis Valls in an ingenious white, cotton, hooded jump-suit randomly imprinted all over with words from the play in large bold caps.  He relates the backstory and brings us up to date on the Lear family situation.  He exits and Cordelia reappears wearing a more traditional, yet colorful, samurai warrior costume and tall headdress; her braids undone in a cascade of brilliant copper.  As she moves, rotating slowly, stepping carefully, she resembles a statue of an ancient Japanese warrior come to life, relating in speech and mostly song the tragic ending of the sisters and of her own death.  Anna Wray hypnotically chants the sad ending to the tale.

In the program notes, Jubilith Moore writes: "My envisioning of Cordelia is as a phantom, a being whose body has died but who is caught on a lower plane of existence.  Most phantoms in Noh cling to the memory of their incarnate life and this brings them back to the scene of their most intense misery.  Perhaps in the kingdom of death, she will be reminded of what in life she so passionately and wisely knew and can find the meaning of life and infact, be."

The simple yet dramatic set is designed by Joshua McDermott enhanced by the lighting effects designed by Stephen Siegel.  After the play, walk on to the set and take a look at the right hand wall for more text from "Lear" if you weren't able to read it on The Fool's costume.


It would be helpful to know Shakespeare's story of King Lear and have some awareness of Noh theatre to truly appreciate this play.  Still, should you wish to stretch your theatre experience, this Theatre of Yugen's production is not to be missed.  As in Zen and other Japanese and Asian philosophies, one does not expect a beginning, middle or end. Things flow. One must simply observe and allow the story or composition to
unfold.

Theatre of Yugen's "Cordelia" continues through May 7, at NOH Space.  go to http://www.theatreofyugen.org/ for more information.