“Mud was up to here”

From Our Production Development Workshop in Cambodia:A Note from Michael Lessac

…Just had our first run-through. For all of us, the directing staff and the circus performers, this was the first time we didn’t just know we were exploring the past…we felt it. One young performer, referring to a Khmer Rouge scene in a muddy rice field, said, “Up until now, when I worked on this scene, on the best days, the mud in the field was up to here (he points to his ankle), but this time it was up to here” (he points to his upper thigh). I had to smile, thinking maybe that was perhaps the most sophisticated statement of acting I have heard in a long time.

A few days later, we were visited by the mother of one of our associate artists, Belle Sodhachivy Chumvan. Belle’s 76-year-old mother, Nou Sondab, was a famous actress before the genocide and survived the Khmer Rouge regime to continue on to be one of the preeminent actresses and singers in Cambodia. Interestingly, she is credited with being one of the first actresses to introduce realistic perceptual acting in the country. When she announced her age to the cast, she took her teeth out to demonstrate what happened when a Khmer Rouge soldier kicked her in the mouth.

At any rate, when I visited her after the run-through (she had tears in her eyes), she said to me through a translator, “These children…they weren’t there, but now they are and it is so good to see that they understand.”

Why else are we Global Arts Corps?

When a present generation plays back the past to the older generation, a fine and beautiful healing communication is achieved. If nothing more, there is an understanding between generations, an empathic acknowledgement of what their elders went through…which is perhaps forgiveness for ourselves as well as for each other. An exchange of gifts.

All best and happy holidays,

Michael Lessac