by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and author Gao Xingjian
WHEN: November 12, 13, 17, 19, 20 at 8 PM, November 13, 14, 20 at 2 PM and November 18 at 5 PM. A discussion with the cast follows the Nov 18 performance.
WHERE: Zella Fry Theatre on the Kean University campus in Union
TICKETS: $15, $12 for seniors and Kean faculty, staff and alumni and $10 for students and can be ordered by calling the box office at 908.737.SHOW (7469). Group rates are available for parties of 10 or more and can be arranged by calling Paul Whelihan, audience services coordinator, at 908.737.4077. Visit the website at www.keanstage.com.
Written in 1986, The Other Shore was originally scheduled to be produced by the Beijing People’s Art Theater, where the playwright was an artist in residence. For political reasons, however, it was banned and never staged in mainland China. Thematically, the play addresses issues of collectivism and individualism—themes that Xingjian has addressed throughout his career, and ones that are considered to be highly volatile in the Communist Chinese context. The work raised the ire of authorities, and it proved to be a turning point in Xingjian’s life: although it was not the first of Xingjian’s works to be banned, the state’s decision on The Other Shore convinced the playwright that if he was to continue to write unhindered by state controls, it would not be inside mainland China; Xingjian left his native land for France, where he lives in exile.
The play’s title refers to the concept of ‘‘paramita’’ or ‘‘nirvana,’’ the land of enlightenment in Buddhism. According to Buddhist belief, humans experience an actual visible life full of suffering, but by living according to the virtues of ‘‘paramita’’—morality, patience, meditation and wisdom—they can cross the ‘‘river of life’’ to the other shore and experience enlightenment.
“Xingjian was pushing a lot of political buttons at the time,” said Anna DeMers, Assistant Professor of Theatre at Kean University, where she concentrates on movement for the actor training. DeMers directs the production, adding, “I wanted to explore with the students a piece that asked to be developed through the body. My training as an artist and my specialty is in physical theatre and movement.”
“Using their own physical landscapes, the actors were crucial to how the production developed,” noted DeMers. “We built a sense of ensemble and trust first and added the script later. We picked moments that they themselves created through asking, ‘When do you trust what you want to do as opposed to what the crowd is doing?’ and ‘How does the spiritual journey fit in to day to day living?’”
The cast of The Other Shore features: Becca Bowe, Brandon Elia, David Farrington (who was seen this past fall with Kean University’s professional theater in residence, Premiere Stages, in Lost Boy Found in Whole Foods starring Emmy-winner Kim Zimmer), Shabazz Green (who frequently understudies roles with Premiere Stages, and performed in their production of Humbug), Steve Sharkey, Samuel Spare, Natalie Bailey, Megan Bandelt, Becca Dagnall, Cara Ganski, Cathy Garcia and Katelyn Morgan.
