OVERVIEW
Mythological sirens roost deep in our collective conscious, ancient forerunners to the femme fatale. In Here Be Sirens; join these singing ciphers as they investigate their own origins, seeking–through the twists & turns of literature & philosophy–a way off the island for good.
CAST
Victoria Benson, soprano, “Polyxo”
Claire Myers McCormick, soprano, “Peitho”
Devony Smith, soprano, “Phaino”
PRODUCTION
Amber Treadway, director
Liene Dobraja, costume design
Matthew Wasser, projection design
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PHOTOS
Photos by Johnny Call and Jill Steinberg
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VIDEO
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PROGRAM
PROLOGUE
1. “The Myth of Er”: text by Plato
2. “Concerning the Siren”: text by Bishop Theobald
3. “Song”
SCENE 1: SIRENS BREAK RANK
4. “Sirenbraid”: texts by Homer (abridged Soper) and Carl Jung
5. “Naufragium 1”: text by Erasmus
SCENE 2: POLYXO EXPLAINS IT ALL
6. “Altas Undas/Furtivus Amor”: texts by Raimbaut de Vacqueiras
and Tibullus
7. “Phonebook Aria”
8. “Naufragium 2”: text by Erasmus
SCENE 3: ORIGIN SPECULATION 1
9. “Witch-Wife”: text by Edna St. Vincent Millay
10. “Naufragium 3”: text by Erasmus
SCENE 4: THE ABDUCTION OF PERSEPHONE
11. “The Abduction of Persephone”
12. “Hymn to Neptune”: text by Thomas Campion
13. “Naufragium 4”: text by Erasmus
SCENE 5: ORIGIN SPECULATION 2
14. “Muses Entra’ct”
15. “Siren Nomenclature”
16. “O Sailor”:
17. “Naufragium 5”: text by Erasmus
SCENE 6: THE CONTEST OF THE MUSES AND THE SIRENS
18. “The Muzes Elyzium”: text by Michael Drayton
19. “Pythagorus 1”: text by Iamblicus
20. “Across the Turbid Waves”: text by Dante (trans. Soper)
21. “In a Silent Valley”: text by John Milton
22. “Pythagorus 2”: text by Iamblicus
23. “Naufragium 7”: text by Erasmus
SCENE 7: PEITHO RISING
24. “Sappho Fragments”: text by Sappho (trans. Anne Carson)
25. “Here to Me from Krete”: text by Sappho (trans. Anne Carson)
26. “Naufragium 7”: text by Erasmus
SCENE 8: A CYCLE COMPLETES
27. “Song to Odysseus”: text by Homer
HERE BE SIRENS
January 28, 2018
National Sawdust
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Music & Book by Kate Soper
