Salome

opera

Tickets have already gone on sale for the New National Theatre's production of Richard Strauss's Salome. I'm sure you know it.

Due to its scandalous subject matter, Salome shocked Europe when it was first performed in Dresden, in 1905. The scene of Salome kissing the freshly severed head and extraordinarily tense music were so new and sensuous that the opera was prohibited from being performed in various cities, making the name of Richard Strauss known to the world with a peculiar ring.

But in this age of war and gore, can Salome still shock? Well, it can at least make people very very uncomfortable. I saw one production in Shibuya not too long ago that was really fucking raunchy. Here's a mini-review from my super-secret blog.

I always expect the Dance of the Seven Veils to suck because opera singers just can't dance, but this show presented a new low. Quite often, a professional dancer is switched in (the music is so intense that a few half-assed twirls and jazz-hands wouldn't look right), but in this production, the soprano did her own dancing; and she was clumsy, awkward and just bad, bad, bad. The very opposite of seductive, as a matter of fact. Besides which, they only used one veil. Meh.

The singer who played Salome was this tall blond in silver stilettos. I felt sorry for her for having to take her clothes off and do all that crap with the head of Iokanaan. So check this out. You know how, after he's beheaded, she goes on and on with "Let me kiss your lips, Iokanaan! Let me kiss your lips"? Well, she did more than kiss his lips. She stuck the severed head of the prophet between her legs and moved back and forth on it, spasming every once in a while for effect. The head was giving her head. I guess they were trying to make it shocking for our time, and they certainly succeeded. I kept looking around nervously at all the little old ladies in the room, as if they were my grandmothers and they were disapproving. But no one winced. Well, just me.

I'm really selling it, aren't I? Different staging, I'm sure. If it means anything to you, the libretto is really a German translation of Oscar Wilde's play. That's something, eh? And Nordic opera superstar Eva Johansson will be playing Salome as Friedrich Haider conducts.

Salome will be at the New National Theatre Tokyo's Opera House from 27 February to 7 March. Advanced tickets can be purchased by phone (+81-3-5352-9999) or through Pia [p-code: 145-129]. It'll be sung in German with Japanese subtitles, so I recommend you read up on the story first.

Tokyo International Arts Festival - The Eurasia Festival

event

Guestblogged something yesterday at On Gaien Higashi Dori.

Oh, and check this out: the Tokyo International Arts Festival - The Eurasia Festival. From 12 February to 28 March, TIF will be presenting performances by theatre groups and dance troupes from Europe and Asia. This year, there'll be three shows from Middle Eastern theatre companies. And even if you can't understand the Arabic or read the Japanese subtitles, you know "Hamlet," right?

The "Al-Hamlet Summit" takes the familiar characters of Shakespeare's Hamlet and places them inside a conference room in an unnamed Arab State today. This new play is a rewriting of Shakespeare's original that takes an incisive and poetic look at the politics surrounding Arab-West relationships and the continuing cycle of violence in the Middle East.

Neat. ("Neat" is the only word I can think of right now. But I'm sure it's better than neat.)

For English speakers/readers, there will be "Ie-niwa Takai Ki-ga Atta," an acclaimed family drama by Hirosaki Theatre Company of Aomori, and "adrenalin...heart," a thought-provoking romance by The Bush Theatre of the U.K. Also check out their multilingual lectures and presentations for international visitors. I know you're not exactly a "visitor." Just pretend, okay?

Casting Call

audition

Happy McNew Year, my pretties. I can't quite recall how I spent New Year's Eve, but it had something to do with smoke, lights and mediocre music. Drinking champagne out of the bottle. Firecrackers. Cab rides. A dark room. Lots of waiting around. First meal of the year? Breakfast at McDonald's. I know. I'm ashamed of myself for supporting The Corporation. Let's hope none of this is portentous of the rest of the year. In the morning, I decided that the idea of New Year's Eve was stupid. Every year people run around trying to make sure they're doing something memorable for the countdown. It's just one moment. What about the rest of my life?

Okay, enough.

I have neither the time nor inclination to think today. Thank goodness for Kristen who sent me the following casting notice just so's Ah kin have somethin' here on my first day of work this year.

Casting Call
Saturday January 10, 2004
Info: casting[at]mediatinker.com

New serial drama seeks Japanese and foreign actors. The auditions will consist of two cold readings; you do not need to prepare a monologue. Headshots and resumes are appreciated, but not necessary.

In addition to the roles listed below, we need people of all backgrounds and ages for smaller parts and as extras.

Production is planned for weekends from March through April. Not all characters will be required for all shooting days.

Actress "Yoko"
Age: 20s-30s
Nationality: Japanese
Language: Bilingual E/J
"Yoko" is a stunningly beautiful actress with lots of talent, however, she's also a kind, sincere, humble person. Although she knows she is beautiful and is confident in her acting ability, she is very shy off-camera, and a bit insecure and awkward when interacting in the "real world." She is genuinely a kind-hearted person who is torn between following her acting career and pleasing her parents.

Actress "Tomoko"
Age: 20s-30s
Nationality: Japanese
Language: Bilingual E/J
"Tomoko" is a beautiful and feisty actress who hasn't achieved the success she wants. She's known as a busybody who knows everyone's business and gossips behind everyone's back—therefore, she's a troublemaker.

Actress "Junko"
Age: 20s-30s
Nationality: Japanese
Language: Japanese or bilingual
"Junko" is a quiet, insecure, and introverted young woman who works behind the scenes. She is sort of plain and the outgoing actors and actresses forget to invite her along to social events. Junko speaks but she has emotional depth. She's quick to try to please, but her eyes reveal sadness.

Actress "Miki"
Age: 20s-30s
Nationality: Japanese
Language: Japanese or bilingual
"Miki" is a young actress who is always late for rehearsals and meetings. Although she is a fine actress, she is a prima dona who reacts badly to criticism.

Actress "Anna"
Age: 20s-30s
Nationality: European or British
Language: English or bilingual
"Anna" is a photographer who has been in Japan for just a few months. She has an outgoing personality and is trying hard to make friends and get her career going.

Actor "Sean"
Age: 20s-30s
Nationality: UK, Australian, or NZ
Language: English or bilingual
"Sean" is a comic artist and English teacher. He is the comic relief in the show, (a la Kramer), offering wisdom in a friendly manner.

Out the Window

art

I hope everyone's holidays are going well. Last post of the year.

I was serious about wanting to go to that Pervenche gig on the 28th, so I'm bringing it up again. Check my calendar for details and/or call me.

When I return from vacation mode, I'd like to go to this. "Out the Window - Spaces of Distraction" is an exhibition of multimedia art with fifty-seven artists from Japan, China and South Korea; it's being held at the Japan Foundation Forum in Akasaka starting 10 January. "Many of the selected participants are budding artists whose work will be shown in Japan for the first time and who offer a glimpse of the ever-changing East Asian art scene through their latest creations." In connection to this exhibition, there will be an "Artist's Talk Marathon" from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the 10th, and two events at Super Deluxe on the evenings of the 9th and 10th (Performance Night and Sound Session Night respectively, both featuring artists and musicians connected to the exhibition). And if I keep telling myself that Super Deluxe is in Nishi Azabu instead of Roppongi, I might even convince myself to go.

Hold my hand, will you?

Something

crap

Oh hell no. You want to see a picture of the Dandy? A very very bad picture?

Here. Scroll down to the second item. I'm the one who looks heavily sedated (long, black hair). Yeah. Remember that audition notice I posted about "Proof"? I auditioned my own self and got cast as Catherine. I didn't even have to sleep with anyone. I was sort of conflicted about the whole thing: on the one hand, I think acting can be silly and stupid; on the other hand, it's also challenging and a lot of fun. I'm talking cast parties, people. (I also have to admit that the story seemed real to me because I can honestly relate to people who've had close family members go "bughouse" on them.)

Anyway, I'll tell you more when we get closer to the run. In the meantime, please resist the temptation to Photoshop my head onto other people's bodies. Danke, darlings.

Ark of the Covenant

dandy

I'd say I've been a slacker for not updating, but that's not really true. I've been swamped since...well, September, but really really swamped for the past month or so. I've gained this weird twitch in my right eye because I've been getting little-to-no-sleep lately. I'm a freak! And because of my crazy schedule, I've had no free time to do other stuff and hence no motivation to look for stuff-to-do.

So no Dandy for you.

(All this may sound like whining, but I'm having a ball! I really am.)

I just came back to document one thing. Do you remember how I mentioned here that some people claimed that the Ark of the Covenant was hidden in Shikoku? Here's more information on that. Via Fark.

Because I feel guilty and want to give you something to read, I'm cutting and pasting a story I told people about this scary baby I kept seeing around Tokyo. (You may have read it already.) Keep an eye out for this little freak of nature. Okay, here:

You know, there's this baby I've seen around the city TWICE now and it is damn fucking creepy. You know those pictures of Mary and Jesus where Jesus is a weird, tiny size and supposed to be a baby but is not painted with baby proportions so he ends up looking like a pygmy with a crown? The baby looks like that. The first time I saw it, it was across the crosswalk from me with its mother. And I remember saying out loud, "What the fuck is that?" And then it started pointing directly at me—I swear!—and saying something to it's mother. And the mother started saying something to it, and they were going back and forth like that for over two minutes. (The light was taking a long time.) And it didn't look like the kind of conversation one has with a baby. They looked like they were speaking complete, long and diabolic sentences. I imagined the baby speaking with a British accent (like on "Family Guy") and telling the mother how it wants to kill me. And I can imagine the mother trying to talk it out of killing me, pleading for my life even though she doesn't know me. Anyway, then the light turned green and I tried to walk diagonally so as to avoid them. The next time I saw them (in a completely different part of town!), we were across the crosswalk from each other again and, as I passed them, I kept saying to myself, "Don't look up. Don't make eye contact." So it didn't notice I was there.

Anyway, sorry for that long story. I just thought you should know, just in case they fish my body out of Tokyo Bay and find tiny bite marks on my ankles.

Southeast Asian Film Festival

film

Note that the Avicon post has been updated.

Also, there's this: the Southeast Asian Film Festival. It started on the 5th and will continue until the 14th at the Japan Foundation Forum, Akasaka Twin Tower. The linked sites are in Japanese, but an English description of the event can currently be found here.

Tonight's the only night I can go, but they're showing An Army of Peace, a documentary about a peace march by Buddhist monks through former Khmer Rouge territory in Cambodia, and The Red Lotus, described as a simple love story that also captures different aspects of Laotian life and culture. The film was made for only 5000 U.S. dollars...which makes me wonder how my brother managed to squander the financial backing I gave him for his 20-minute senior thesis... Feh.

Here's the schedule for the rest of the festival. Films marked with a star will have both Japanese and English subtitles. Tickets are 1000 yen at the door.

Japan Times?

event

Because of other plans, I don't know if I'm really going to this; I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about it.

If you got the Japan Times today, there was a little "bulletin board" message on the bottom of the second page announcing "Bush's alleged Afghan war crimes face wrath of 'tribunal.'" According to a past article, Akira Maeda, a professor at Tokyo Zokei University "proposed the idea of a civic tribunal in February," a la Bertrand Russell, because he decided that "unless war crimes and relevant legal concerns are properly addressed, the arguments [against the war] will remain unconvincing." The article later mentions that the organizers "also believe Japan is responsible," but due to time constraints, they'll be focusing their arguments on Bush's actions. Okee dokee.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Afghanistan, scheduled for the 13th and 14th of December, is linked with the International Action Center, an organization that works "against U.S. imperialism, for people's needs" and that was formed by former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark. (You can read more about their work on their website.) The Tribunal has been holding public hearings all over Japan (and even in Manila) since December of last year. For this month's trial, families of both Afghanistan and the September 11 attacks will be on the witness stand, testifying that "Bush's war was not what they wanted."

I have to say that this sounds almost surreal. Especially this part: "Amicus Curiae will be debating on behalf of U.S. President George W. Bush and his attorneys." Yeah. I mean, what Bush supporter in his or her right mind would even go to something like this? Maeda might get all Jerry Springer on their ass. (I'd pay to see that, actually.) But would this Amicus Curiae put up much of a fight? Would they be better or worse than an interested party at defending the president? You see the concern here? This whole thing will probably be preaching to the converted and may not provide much of a debate, but it's possible that you could learn a little bit about international law in the process. And won't that be relevant to your major when you go back to school? Yes. Yes, it will.

The trial will be held at Kudan Kaikan (near Kudanshita stn, [map]), admission is 2000 yen for one day or 3000 for both, and doors open at 10 a.m. An English translation will be available.

As always: Punch and pie. (Heh. Shut up. It never gets old.)

Watarium

art

It's been a while since I've been to Watarium for anything other than the downstairs shop.

But they've got three exhibits running right now that I'd like to see, not the least of which is "I Love Art: part 7," displaying works by Keith Haring, Nam June Paik and Fabrice Hybert. Frankly, I don't know what the connection is, but ain't it grand? My fascination with both video art and weirdo robots draws me to Nam June Paik in particular, all Fluxus-representin' in Asia. Meanwhile, this review of Fabrice Hybert's Watarium exhibit two years ago has piqued my interest in his "prototype d'objet en fonctionnement." It almost sounds like a euphemism. For what? Don't know. As for Keith Haring? Well, er, he's famous...eh? And, um...we dig his condoms.

The other two exhibits are of the product designs of Russian artist Alexander Rodchenko, who is also well-known as a Constructivist painter and photographer (it'd be better to see his photographs, but I'll take what I can get), and the drawings of Japanese artist Kaoru Arima, whose work leans toward twisted eccentricity, but not without a sense of humor.

All of these exhibits end in mid-April of next year, so we can take our time. As always, it's 1000 yen to get in, including repeat visits for as long as the exhibit is running.

British Embassy Choir

music

First thing's first. Yo La Tengo have still got it. (Er...that wasn't meant to be a pun...) They were great last night, with a stamina rivaling that of Jon Brion. They have one more performance tonight, so go if you can...even though they're sold out. Mind you, the Dandy does not condone buying from scalpers. However, the Dandy does condone sneaking in through the back, risking embarrassment and possibly even arrest. Do it. You'll be popular.

Okay, so I may as well remind myself that the British Embassy Choir is performing their Christmas Concerts at three different locations this month: the Candian Embassy Theatre (on the 12th), Meiji Gakuin University Chapel (the 14th) and St. Ignatius Church (the 16th). More information (including maps) can be found on the choir's brand-spankin' new website. Note that admission is free, but as always, they'll be taking a collection for charity (The Terry Fox Cancer Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and UNIFEM).

I'd like to go to the first one since a friend of mine will be singing and my voice teacher will be a soloist. (Yay!) It's also another friend's last night in Tokyo, and we look forward to the mayhem that tends to accompany such a night. So, yeah, if you decide to go to that one, say hi.