NEW
YORK TIMES
Saturday, December 26, 2000
Villain,
Hero, Princess
In Time for the Holidays
Kinding
Sindaw Troupe
La Mama
Kinding
Sindaw created magic when it presented "Rajah Mangandiri"
on Sunday afternoon. The New York troupe seeks to preserve the dance,
music, and martial art traditions of the Maranao people of the southern
Philippines. Its name means "dance of light," and the
production told how a hero rescues a princess from a crafty villain. In the process
he survives a shipwreck, battles an evil serpent, and is aided by the
king of the monkeys.
Students
of mythology might find this plot akin to that of the
"Ramayana," the ancient Indian epic. "Rajah Mangandiri"
is the Philippine version, introduced when the islands formed part of an
Indian empire that flourished between the 4th and 10th centuries.
This
inventive adaptation, directed by Wayland Quintero, was conceived
and choreographed by the company's artistic director, Potri Ranka
Manis, who is also the daughter of the sultan of the Maranao tribe.
"Rajah
Mangandiri" was so enchanting that one hopes the company can
repeat it next year at this time. Once they are acquainted with
its story, children can enjoy it as much as grown-ups and it might serve
as fine wintertime entertainment for families who have overdosed on
"The Nutcracker."
Theatrical
wonders abounded. When men swayed while carrying poles, one
soon realized they were on a boat; when they staggered and fell,
one knew they'd been shipwrecked. The princess's suitors played what
looked like a game of football to prove their valor. The battle with the
snapping serpent was represented by shadows on a screen, as if the
dancers had turned into human shadow puppets.
The
mischievous monkey king bounded and tumbled, turning flip-flops
and somersaults. The rapid clashing of bamboo poles symbolized roaring
flames. And the epic was acted to shimmering music by an ensemble
of gongs and drums.
Jack
Anderson
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