The last time I saw Jesuit Father George Drance almost three years ago, he was performing a one-man, tour de force of the Gospel of Mark, “*mark, The Gospel of Mark,” at the famous La MaMa Theatre on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Last Saturday he was mostly behind the scenes for the first part of his new production as the director and the shadow behind the screen. “I was giving a sense of other worldy powers,” said the actor-in-residence at Fordham University.
And his world premiere of “Calderon’s Two Dreams” achieves a decades long desire to translate and mount the works of one of the major playwrights of the 17th century Spanish Golden Age, Pedro Calderon de la Barca.
“Calderon’s Two Dreams” is a presentation of both versions of Calderon’s “Life is a Dream.” The first was performed in 1635 when he was member of the court. Then 42 years later, he wrote a second version as a priest. Each is different from the other.
The first recounts the story of Segismundo, Prince of Polonia, (Gilbert Molina) imprisoned by his father, Basilio, King of Polonia, (Dennis Vargas) almost to protect him from himself. Chance visitors discover his imprisonment, which leads to his temporary release, when he discovers his royal heritage. But then he wonders why his very own father has denied him his royal birthright.
Segismundo speaks, “For in this world, everyone dreams and no one
Gilbert Molina as Segusmundo in “Calderon’s Two Dreams” at LaMama in New York.Theo Cote
understands. I dream that I’m here, Weighed down by these chains, and I’ve dreamt that I found myself in more opulent circumstances.” A turning point occurs when he asks, “What is life? A frenzy. What is life? An illusion, A shadow, a fiction, And the greatest good is small; For all of life is a dream, And dreams, are only dreams.”
Calderon at first deals with questions of freedom and choice in a confusing reality. “Human beings through our own efforts overcome fate and destiny,” said Drance. Drance sees Calderon struggling with the concepts of predestination and redemption, salvation and grace. He said the Prince character is a reincarnation of a historical figure, who lived 100 years before the play.
The second performance is totally different in a dramatic form called auto-sacramental. I found it almost preachy and quasi liturgical but more satisfying than the first performance because of the performances of three principals.
“Man” (Dan Solomon) is the Adam in Genesis through the Jesus of the Gospels shaped by the forces of nature. Rachel Benbow Murdy plays “Understanding” with a kind of Brooklyn accent and tries to keep “Man” on course especially when he encounters the “Prince of Darkness,” played deliciously by Ali Kennedy Scott.
Gabriel Portuondo as Earth, Margi Sharp Douglas as Water, Erika Iverson as Air, Gilbert Molina as Fire Ensemble in “Calderon’s Two Dreams” at LaMama in New York.Theo Cote
The overt religious symbols are enhanced by the use of three huge characters on stilts wearing oversized chasubles, used by priests at Mass. Their masks are modeled after the Icons of the Trinity, by 16th century Russian painter, Andre Rublev.
“Power, Wisdom and Grace” are the three persons of the Trinity. “The play is basically about the gift of our own free will and how we are trusted by God to use this in cooperation with grace,” said Drance.
The music was composed by the late Elizabeth Swados, the Tony-winning playwright for “Runaways,” who was a resident artist at La MaMa and a mentor to Drance. She died last year. Drance is also a resident artist at LaMaMa, one of the most acclaimed experimental theatres in the country. And his Magis Theatre Company works out of LaMaMa.
Magis is a Jesuit term that comes out of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, their founder. In Drance’s words, “What must I do each day for God who has done so much for me?” And that explains why his theatre group seeks to perform works that grapple with classic spiritual themes.
Calderon was educated at the Jesuit College in Madrid, the Colegio Imperial, and first went into law. His two plays move from asking can this prince be a good ruler to are human beings good caretakers of the earth. A key realization for “Man,” who wonders “Heavens! What is all this I see? What is this, heavens, that I look at? A mere moment ago, wasn’t the center of that hard mass of earth my sad dark prison? Well, then who took me to a place so rich, so sumptuous? Again, I start to doubt for the thousandth time, who am I, who was I and who will I be? “
F.Y.I.
World Premiere of “Calderon’s Two Dreams,” Created by George Drance and the Magis Theatre Company; Original Music by Elizabeth Swados; through Sunday, February 26. Performances Thursday to Saturday at 7 p.m.; Sunday at 4 p.m., in the Ellen Stewart Theatre of La MaMa, 66 East 4th Street (2nd Floor), Manhattan. Running Time: 3 hours with one intermission. For tickets. call OvationTix: 212-352-3101. Buy Tickets in Person: Box Office opens 1 hour prior to showtime.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, 07030, FAX: 201-659-5833; Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken
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