“Errand into the Maze”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

Errand into the Maze is a Martha Graham ballet based on a poem by Ben Belitt set to music by Gian Carlo Menotti. The surrealistic set was designed by Isamu Noguchi, the costumes by Graham herself.^[1] The dance uses the Greek myth of Ariadne and the Minotaur to explore the theme of conquering one’s inner demons, more specifically the fear of sexual intimacy.^[2] The piece premiered at the Ziegfeld Theatre on February 28, 1947, with Graham as the protagonist, a sort of female Theseus,^[3] and Mark Ryder as the Minotaur-like character.

The original program notes describe the action as “that errand-journey into the maze of the heart to face and do battle with the Creature of Fear.”^[4]

Barely fifteen minutes in length,^[5] Errand into the Maze is designed almost as a solo work, with the bull-horned, staff (bone)-carrying Creature of Fear serving more as a prop than an active participant.^[6]

The unnamed female protagonist weaves her way through a rope maze outlined on the stage to arrive at a set (originally by Isamu Noguchi) that includes a suggestive v-shaped wooden frame (like a tree, or a woman’s crotch) She is confronted three times by the creature, ultimately overpowering him. He drops the bone/staff as he sinks to the floor in surrender. The heroine dances in the void between the two vertical set elements as the curtain falls.^[7]

References

1. ^Walter Terry, The Dance, New York Herald Tribune, March 1, 1947, http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200153678/default.html >
2. ^Stuart Hodes, Part Real, Part Dream: Dancing with Martha Graham, Concord ePress, 3rd edition, August 2011, location 3342
3. ^John Martin, Miss Graham Gives a New Dance Work, The New York Times, March 1, 1947, http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200153681/pageturner.html
4. ^S. Hurok presents Martha Graham, Ziegfeld Theatre, Monday, February 24, through Sunday, March 2 http://lcweb2.loc.gov/natlib/ihas/service/graham.1/200153664/200153664.pdf
5. ^Joseph Stevenson, Gian Carlo Menotti, Errand into the Maze, ballet, Allmusic.com http://www.allmusic.com/composition/errand-into-the-maze-ballet-mc0002358764
6. ^Cecil Smith, The Maze of the Heart, Dance in Review, Theatre Arts, May 1947 http://lcweb2.loc.gov/natlib/ihas/service/graham.1/200153706/200153706.pdf
7. ^Martha Graham, Errand into the Maze, 1990 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieMO1Z0UhGQ
8. ^Martha Graham Dance Company Repertory http://marthagraham.org/press-presenters2/repertory/