Projects

Surpanakha

In 1976 we produced an adaptation of one act of a kutiyattam play entitled, Surpanakha, or the Amorous Demoness. I had just returned from an extensive research tour to Kerala in 1974-75. The show was performed entirely in English in as authentic a fashion as was possible in those days. Like Village Plays of India, the production was done out of doors between the International Center and the river on the East Lansing campus. The entire show was based on copious field notes, detailed photographs and tape recordings of several productions of the work presented by the Kerala Kalamandalam Company of Cheruthuruthy, Kerala.

I well remember the care taken by my chief drummer, a young American music major specializing in percussion. What was remarkable was that she listened to my audio tapes of the professional kutiyattam drummers and was able to transcribe what she heard, make a score of the drumming patterns, and develop her own system for duplicating the sounds on a small copper mizhavu drum we had brought back from Kerala for the show.

In addition, Yasmin Richmond, carefully led the actors through the proper procedures for applying makeup, tying, and using the elaborate costumes. Most of the elaborate ornaments for the show were carved by traditional craftsmen in Kerala and finished by Yasmin with tiny hand-carved mirrors and bright tinsel paper applyed to the wood using bees’ wax.

Besides the photos of the show, seen here, it is possible to order several video tapes related to this production. A complete studio version of the show may be found at http://orders.oip.msu.edu/product_p/386.15.htm

A half-hour video on the making of the production was done by our Instructional Television Services on campus. Contact http://orders.oip.msu.edu/product_p/386.08.htm.

I made numerous other video tapes on Asian acting techniques that are available from this same source.