Macbeth- Who Is That Bloodied Man?

Kochi Muziris Biennale is happening in Fort Cochin from December to March and we are here to experience it. For 50 rupees ($1.00) we buy I ticket that permits us entry in to any of the art exhibits being offered in the town. The Biennale (pronounced ‘be an ali’) is a presentation for expressions created and collected by the various social activist movements in India and internationally. Through multi forms of art, exhibited in various venues, expression of the modern trends of thought is portrayed. It is a bit like Illuminatto in Toronto, except it is not for just one night. It has been wonderful to add dimension of learning to our visit to Fort Cochin. We have seen some thought provoking presentations and have learned a great deal about modern Indian culture and ways of thinking.

 

This evening, a Polish Company presented an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, performed in a huge park in the town. They called it Macbeth, Who Is That Bloodied Man? Malayalam residents shared audience with travellers from all over the world to appreciate the artistic interpretation on the original play. Inferences to communist power and deceit, combined with the personal lives of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth and Mcduff was brilliant. The performance was spectacular! In the hour and a half, I, and the enormous crowd of spectators were mesmerized by the extreme drama of the presentation.

Elongated human figures, made grotesquely tall with stilts, are dressed in long black sheets covering their entire bodies right down to the ground. White curtains mask their faces, reminding me clearly, of death.

The darkness of the night with the sprinkling of the stars in the sky and the presence of the almost full moon helped create a most auspicious display. So did the loud, percussive, base music and an operatic female voice singing aria through one microphone while standing erect on the top of a scaffold platform on the side of the stage. The moon shone above her head. Fire was used often reinforcing the intensity of the drama.

 

Blood, represented with paint, red sheets and occasional sprinkling of red dust creatively reminded us of the force of death. The repeated gunshots from active pistols, crazy motorcycle rides on the stage, and the persistent use of oversized noisemakers from all the actors, reinforced the notion of power and control. The symbolism of the props emphasized a communist theme.

I was mesmerized throughout the entire performance, captivated by the multi sensory interpretation of Shakespeare. Seated cross-legged on the ground along with hundreds of other people I was totally enthralled. Not even the constant ringing of cell phones disturbed me! In India, people don’t not answer their phones. Whole conversations take place during performances, with no attempt to modify voice level to avoid disturbing actors or others enjoying the show. Looking around me, though, no one else seemed disturbed! People just continue to tune in to whatever they’re doing. It’s a yogic mentality…. staying focussed. In India, people practise this all the time. There is always so much going on, one has to learn to concentrate on the task at hand and avoid distraction.

I found myself doing the same thing and simply enjoying the show. Lately, I’ve been thinking about that a lot…just realizing the experience and experiencing it completely.

Avoiding interpretation, judgement, and rationalizing all contribute to distraction. Living in the very moment allows for complete pleasure and ultimate awareness. Yoga teaches me this too!

The performance was phenomenal. Hundreds of Indian spectators circled around an impromptu stage. We sat with them on theground. Behind us people stood watching, about 5 rows deep, awestruck, and silent (except for when the cell phones ringing and the conversations that followed) watching performance art in action.

What a great experience tonight, sharing Shakespeare with Malayalam community under the night sky in India!