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Article: Eric Simonson: journey songs. (dramatist)
- Article from:
- American Theatre
- Article date:
- April 1, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 Theatre Communications Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Lights rise on a blank stage. In the distance, the sound of nine male voices singing. Then the members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo enter from far upstage, crooning the deeply harmonic music of their South African homeland, rising into view to meet us as if rounding a bend in the earth.
Those who know the work of director Eric Simonson will recognize his signature theatrical gesture from The Song of Jacob Zulu, a meld of music and theatre, of mystery and revelation. They also will recognize the tendency of characters in plays directed by Simonson to be on long journeys, often literal but always metaphorical.
On Christmas Eve last year, Simonson had just returned ...