MelissaStuddard
Siddhartha,She (2025) ActII
OntheFerry(ChorusIasRiver,Siddhartha,Dharuna,ChorusIasPassingSamanasandDisciplesandHouseholders,Kamala,ChorusIasMembersoftheProcession,ChorusIIintheAudience) ,Siddhartha,Dharuna,ChorusIasPassingSamanasandDisciplesandHouseholders,Kamala,ChorusIasMembersoftheProcession,ChorusIIintheAudience) Justbeforesunrise,inanhourthatisneithertotallydarknorcompletelylit,andwithintheshroudofamysteriousfogthatenvelopesthestage,SIDDHARTHAsitsonaraft,withacloakedand hoodedfigure(DHARUNA)standingsomedistancebehindher,faceobscured,rowing[i][i]ThefogisdenseraroundDHARUNA,whoseemsotherworldlyandnecromanticInsilenceoccasionally punctuatedbytrillinginsectsandotherpre-dawnsounds,DHARUNArowswithrhythmicfluidityLightinggraduallybrightensthroughthesceneastwilighttransformsintomorning AsSIDDHARTHAleansdownanddipsahandintothewater,abevyofnearbyswansfliesoffslappingtheirfeetontothewater,whistlingtheirwings,andsoundingtheirbeaks[i]Thescene willgraduallymovefromopacitytoclarity,bothinthoughtandenvironmentAstheferryadvances,asdayprogresses,asthefogdissipatesandSiddharthaobservesandreflects,soSiddhartha becomesmorelucidtoo
Ontheferry
/ Chincymb / largetam-tam(w/palmdeepsplash)
BuddhaChordisnotyetfullyrealized,elementsofitsstillnessunfoldintandem withelementsassociatedwiththemotionandforwardflowoftheriver/journey
Anabruptcommotionalongoneoftheriverbanksdrawstheirattentiontoalively
Asshewalks,everyoneshepassesbeginstofollownotattheendoftheprocession,butrightbehindhersothatfollowersaregradually shiftedfurtherandfurtherbackbynewpeoplewantingtobenearherChildren,men,womenallfollowKAMALApassesanowl,andthe owlturnsitsheadallthewayaroundandthenfliesafterherCatsfollowherMonkeys,butterflies,birds,bees,andsnakesfollowAnything shepassesjoinstheprocessionofKAMALAwalkingLikeGOTAMA,she’samagnet,drawingeverythingintoherfield
OVERTHESOUNDSYSTEM: AndIwillplantathousandrubiesbetweenmythighsforyou Iwillplantathousandwrensintheskytosingthesongofyou
SpotlightonKAMALAinthefinalstagesofdressingCenterstagealargedoor(seenfromtheside)separatesgardenandhomedarkandlight wildandtameAsKAMALAadmiresherselfinamirror,OBSCUREDDANCERS,linedupbehindher,serveasherarms,fanningaroundher inasortofsyncopatedflowofmudrasthatistheir“resting”stateShe’selegant,butenergetic,lively,mischievousaharnessedbustleofwarmenergy Now,onehandsmoothsKAMALA’ShairandanotherpinchesKAMALA’Scheekswhiletherestofthearmscontinuetheirflow
SCENEV:InnerSanctum
Kamala'sHouse
KAMALAkissesapalmandblowstowardsthemirror,shetossesherhairandfluttershereyelashes, shewinksandlaughscoquettishlyShe’spracticingbutalsoclearlycharmedbyherownallure
Now,anotherhandslidesbanglesonto wristsandanothersituatesscarves
CHORUSII: (fouralternatingquartetsindifferent locationsinaudience,standingeachtimetheysing)
Againthepatteringfeet,thedoorcreakingopenthenclosedSIDDHARTHAalmostinstantlyappearscenterstageatthePleasureGardendoor , cleanedupbutwearingthesameraggedclothesShe’ssoeagerandnervousthatshetripsanddropsaflowershe’sbeencarryingAsshe’s liftingherheadbackupfrompickinguptheflower,herhairgetscaughtonatwignearthedoorKnocksloudlyKAMALAturnstomove towardsthedoor,andthedancersspreadaroundher,visiblenowherattendants
AsKAMALAandSIDDHARTHAfirstseeeachother,they’reboth momentarilytransfixedThenKAMALAquicklyregainscomposure, reachesahandthroughthedoorframe,andcupsSIDDHARTHA’S chin,turningSIDDHARTHA’Sfacesidetoside
(Blurtsawkwardly withcharmingenthusiasm) (attendantsgiggling)
(Pickingthepieceof brokentwigfrom SIDDHARTHAShair)
Siddhartha
Justpastsunset,inthelasthintofeveninglight,amidstcandlesandlanternsandthesoftsongsofbirds andrivermurmuringsKAMALAandSIDDHARTHAbothlavishlydressedsitonabenchorblanket picnickingKAMALAholdsabook,andSIDDHARTHAisstretchedoutwithherheadinKAMALA’S lapBehindthemhanglongstreamsoffabric,ceilingtofloor
KAMALA(overthemusic)
(Readingaloudfromthebook,asattendantspassbackandforththroughthefabricpanelsdeliveringandretrievingbasketsoffoodandwine) SitafloweddownfromthebalconyresplendentinasariofdeepmaroonHerankletstinkledandherpearlearringsswunglikelittlemoons Standingbyherfather,shesmiledgently,thenshylyliftedhereyestolookatRama,whosmiledtoo[i] [i]PassageisadaptedfromTheRamayana
KAMALAsetsthebookaside,andtheATTENDANTSclearitaway,alongwithremnantsofthemeal,andanyotherpicnicparaphernalia SIDDHARTHAguidesKAMALAtoherfeet,andtheyembrace,beginningaromantic,swayingdanceAroundthem,theATTENDANTS performadreamydancefusion/surrealenactmentofSIDDHARTHA’SandKAMALA’Sinnerstates
TheATTENDANTSdancealoneonstageasmusic,lighting,andnaturesoundsindicatetimepassingSIDDHARTHAandKAMALAflowbackout Inanextendedmusicalsequenceadreamy,emotionallycharged,mostlyunsungmontageSIDDHARTHAandKAMALAenactalifetogetherin whichtheydoanycombinationofthefollowing:sharemeals,entertainguests,playcardsandgamble,drink,flirt,brusheachother’shair,embrace, kiss,writeletters,talk,cry,laugh,walk,takecareofeachotherinillness,giveeachotherjewelryandgifts,bicker,makeupIt’salifethat’sfullof love,butalsomaterialexcess,anditstandsincontrasttothespiritually-centeredlifethatSIDDHARTHAhadpreviouslylivedInit,wecansee SIDDHARTHAsometimesfittingin,sometimesstandingapartasifinvolvedinanasideAroundthem,allthewhile,theATTENDANTSflutter , dote,andserveasdancedemotion
*Thebalanceofthechorushereismeant tobemostlybackgroundtotheorchestra
œj‰‰œj‰‰œj‰‰œj‰‰œj‰‰œj‰‰œj‰‰œj‰‰œj‰‰œj‰‰œj‰‰œj‰‰Œ
(Alsonowvisiblyolder,butwithanexcitedand youthfulenergyasshespillsthroughthepanels andtwirlsaroundrushingovertokissKAMALA)
Anothermusicallyledmontagebegins,movingslightlyfasterthanthepreviousoneInteractionsareshorter,elementsofmusic anddancefrombeforearespedupandSIDDHARTHAandKAMALAratherthanstayingfullyonstageastheydidinthe firstmontage,nowthreadinandoutofthepanelsinanincreasinglychaoticanddisjointedway,sometimesseparately,sometimes togetherTimeispassingmorequickly,asitseemstodolaterinlife,yetSIDDHARTHAandKAMALAarephysicallymoving moreslowly,weigheddownbytheexcessesoftheirlifestyleTheATTENDANTSonceagainflutter,dote,andserveasdanced emotion
(Alsoalittle dispassionately)
(Laughingsadly attheabsurdity ofitall)
Siddhartha
TheRiver(Siddhartha;ChorusI,ChorusMembersasRiver,Chorus,MembersasTravelers,ChorusMembers,ChorusMembersasRiver asMonksandNuns,ChorusII;Dharuna;Gotama;Abinaswar)
Mid-afternoonSIDDHARTHAhasfallenasleepnexttotheriverandisjustwakingAhoodedfigure, DHARUNA,sitsnexttoher,watchingoverher
TheRiver
Nowadditionalnaturesoundsreverberate andradiatetheOm,andSIDDHARTHAholds herhandtoherchesttofeelifthesoundiscoming fromherself
(Quietlyasiffromtheothersideofsleep butstartledasifthesoundofherownvoice haswokenher,fillingoutwitheachrepetition)
(Rubbinghereyesandblinkingasif tomakesureDHARUNAisreal
(AstheOmofnaturefadesout,andthrougha veiloffogthatseemstosurroundonlyher)
(Gently,butheldlongerthanSiddharthasOm,fillingoutthesecondtime)
CHORUSIMEMBERSASTRAVELERSapproach,andDHARUNAstepsawaymomentarily,conversingprivatelywiththemas SIDDHARTHAcontinuestositgazingintotheriverForamoment,itlooksasifthegroupwillleave,thenDHARUNAwalks backandholdsherhandouttoSIDDHARTHA,whoacceptsitandjoinsthegroupAstheyferryacross,DHARUNAcanbe seeninstructingSIDDHARTHAinhowtorowandmanagetheraft MusicandlightingindicatetimepassingasSIDDHARTHAandDHARUNAferrybackandforthacrosstheriver
SIDDHARTHAandDHARUNAcontinuetolistentoandlookattheriverastheOmevolvesandtheriverbecomesmoreandmoreluminousCHORUSIandCHORUSIIstand , singingneutralvowelsounds,asprojectedimages,bothmundaneandextraordinary,begintolayerin,appearingasifthey’rerisingoutoftheriver,evaporatingandrainingback intoitWeseepeopleandanimalsbornanddyingandeating,stormswashingoverthelandandsunrisespeekingovermountaintopsWeseecelebrationsandchoresandrituals therichtapestryofbeing,withallitsjoyandsuffering,broughttolifeinimageandsoundfasterandfaster,closertogether,rising,risinguntiltheimageofaflowererupting intoblossomoverlaysthemandtheOmNoteFusioncrescendosintopurelight,lightwhichisnotabsencebut,rather,entiretyRadianceemitsfromstagetoaudience,whereit hangswiththeOm,bathingtheaudienceintheaweofallthings,until,ontheothersideoftheOm,soundgraduallycontractsandseemstorecedebackintotheriver,andonce again,weseeSIDDHARTHAandDHARUNA,andnowtheyareradiantthewayGOTAMAisradiant,andtheysitquietlyforatime,baskingintheafter-humofthesoftly continuingriverOm,until,finally,apassengerapproachesthemforaride
/ largetam-tam(ifpossiblealsostrikechimelowDbondownbeatw/tam-tam) (ifpossiblealsostrikechimelowDbondownbeatw/tam-tam)
AsSIDDHARTHAhelpsABINASWARtoaseat,thesoftOmcontinuestoemanate fromtheriver SIDDHARTHAbeginsrowingABINASWARnotacross,butinto,thelengthofthe riverIt’sevening, andtheAartiritualisjustbeginningtheDANCERSbeginthesacredmovementsas MEMBERSOF
AstheOmamplifiesandSIDDHARTHA’Sradianceintensifies,SIDDHARTHAliftsalamp,stands,andstepsintotheriver,moving towardstheaudiencegesturingforABINASWARtofollowAstheywalkon/intherivereachMEMBEROFCHORUSIthatthey passlightsacandleandfollowsthemtotheedgeofthestage,whereSIDDHARHAstopsandhandsABINASWARthelamp ABINASWARcontinuesoffstage,walkingintotheaudienceandupthecentermostrow,whereabluelighthasflooded,creatingthe illusionofariverMEMBERSOFCHORUSIIlighttheircandlesashepasses;MEMBERSOFCHORUSI,SIDDHARTHA , DHARUNA,andALLONSTAGEbegintofollowABINASWAR,walkingintotherowsofthehall,asMEMBERSOFTHE ORCHESTRAbegintohum,andthesoundoftheriverandthehummingandthemusicwashintotheaudience,floodingthe wholespaceinresonance,embracingallinradiantunity