NIJINSKY AT TWILIGHT

$5.40 – $15.00

The play is a dramatic re-telling of the fame and decline into madness of Vaslav Nijinsky, the greatest male dancer in the history of ballet and a genius as a choreographer. Using dance and music to colour the emotional life of the story. It is told from the perspective of the older Nijinsky at 60 and near death. He “re-visits” his life to try to understand his tragedy. He summons up his own “spirit” - himself at 29 just before he went mad – to help him. Between them – and with the help of “The Woman” who is every-woman in his life, from dance partner, to wife, to mother – they play out the central moments and characters of Nijinsky’s decade of fame from 19 to 29. Scenes explore his adoration of his mother and contempt for his father; his early fame as a dancer; his artistic and personal liaison with Diaghilev; his controversial choreography for Afternoon of a Faune and Rite of Spring; his marriage; his break with Diaghilev; his decline into a 30-year madness.

The three actor/dancers role-play some 16 characters in the telling of the story. The brilliant costumes, music and dance involved in Nijinsky’s life are used – mostly suggested in broad strokes - to illustrate the richness of his emotional journey towards the twilight of madness.

APT