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SNOW IN JUNE adapted and directed by Chen
Shi-Zheng November 29 - December 28, 2003 photos - cast
- synopsis -
Running time is approximately ninety minutes with no intermission. |
Qian Yi. Photo: Richard Feldman. |
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| A startling blend of ancient Chinese theatre and contemporary Americana, dance theatre, and vaudeville, Snow in June conjures the ghost of a young girl who returns to earth to avenge herself on the society that caused her death. Inspired by an ancient legend and a thirteenth-century Chinese drama, Snow in June unites three artists - director and adaptor Chen Shi-Zheng, writer Charles Mee, and composer Paul Dresher, whose music for the production blends traditional Chinese scores with original bluegrass, delta blues, Appalachian, Tex-Mex, and Cajun music. | ||||
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The ghost of a young girl has returned to earth to tell her story, and to avenge her wrongful execution. When she was a child, her father left her in the care of a wealthy widow, who makes her living as a loan shark. The girl grew up to be beautiful and virtuous, and lived happily until one day the widow was mugged in a dark alley, and rescued by an unscrupulous old man and his son. As payment, they demand that the widow and her daughter marry them. The widow refuses, but allows the two men to come home with her. The widow slowly warms to the old man, but the girl has no intention of marrying his wicked son. Devising a scheme to kill the widow, the boy purchases poison from the local apothecary and puts it in her soup. But the widow gives her bowl to the old man, who drinks it and dies. The son accuses the girl of poisoning his father, and the case goes to trial. In an effort to spare her adopted mother, the girl confesses to a crime she didn't commit. As she is led to her death, she proclaims that if she is executed unjustly, the region will suffer a drought, her blood will run up a piece of white silk instead of dripping down to the ground, and snow will fall even though it's midsummer. Sure enough, snow begins to fall as the girl's spirit leaves the earth. |
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The A.R.T. acknowledges special
production sponsors The residency of Charles L. Mee
is made possible by |
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Support for new work and innovation
provided by Additional support provided by Altria Group, Inc. |
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This page updated December 28, 2003 webmanager@amrep.org |
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