Two silhouettes behind a white curtain. Music swirls. Heads poke out, caricatures waddle, forms tell stories. Two women wrapped in white dance in symbols. One sings in Khmer, one recites in French. The music fizzles and bubbles and burns.
Blending traditional and contemporary, theatre and dance, shadows and music, Belle De Nuit (Srey Kouch in Khmer) is a performance creation that arose from a collaboration and exchange between the Cambodian arts collective Kok Thlok and French contemporary theatre group Chantier Art.
The work is an examination of the world of prostitution from a range of thematic and artistic approaches. The first part is stylistically based on commedia dell’arte, or burlesque; the second more realistic and narrative; the final symbolic. The oldest profession is not judged, nor glorified; stories are told and stereotypes challenged.
Actor/dancer Aurélie Ianutolo explains that while the European theatrical tradition is text based, Khmer theatre is focused on dance, and the richness of the production is its ability to draw on the strengths of many disciplines. The text itself is based on selections from Le Cambodge En Voix Off, by Nantarayao Samputho, written in Smot, the Khmer sung poetry, translated into French prose.
The piece has been constantly evolving, says Aurélie. “We began in 2010 with an arts exchange workshop, without using language. Everything passes through the body, the music, the melodies.”
Cultural considerations played a part in the work’s development: Khmer women found it difficult to accept playing the role of a srey kouch. “The feeling was, if I act a bad girl, I become a bad girl,” explains Aurélie. Playing and singing the Khmer role on stage is the graceful and elegant Malis Long. Rounding out the performing troupe are musicians (and composers) Kanika Peang and Adrien Gayraud; technical support is provided by An Heng and Sovann Sok.
Belle De Nuit was first performed at the Institut français du Cambodge in Phnom Penh in January 2011, followed by a six-week tour of France in October/November 2011. You can catch the final three performances of this remarkable and moving work at Show Box this weekend.
WHO:Kok Thlok and Chantier Art
WHAT: Belle De Nuit performance
WHERE: Show Box, #11 St. 330 (between Streets 105 and 113)
WHEN: 7:30pm September 13, 14 & 15
WHY: Forms tell stories