Quintessence
Quintessence: One Hero’s Journey is a staged show created by Allison Girvan that premiered at the Capitol Theatre in Nelson, BC, on October 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2019. See Quintessence.
Conductor, Educator, Singer
Quintessence
Quintessence:
One Hero's Journey
In this staged musical allegory, the characters Hero and Hope are one and the same. The voice of Hope is Hero’s voice. Hero’s physical actions are Hope made manifest.
Birdsong
Hero and Hope comprise a singularity – physical form and soul’s voice united. Each birdcall is accompanied by a gesture of Hope.
Translation of Latin birdcalls:
Aurora – daybreak
Mane Lumin – morning light
Ortus – sunrise (birth, origin)
Eous – of the dawn
Lux – light
Stellam Matutinam – morning star
E Tenebris in Lucem – out of darkness, light
Fracture
Thoughts of divisive rhetoric and climate crisis infiltrate and overwhelm Hero’s mind. Hero traces the familiar path of disconnection – from nature, from others, from self – as the Shadow insinuates itself into the soul and Hope is obscured.
French translation by Garry Girvan.
Earth
The ancestors appear from behind the veil between worlds. Afraid and unable to understand their presence as alliance, the best Hero can do is endure the event until their departure.
Choreography – Sláva Doval
After the Tremor
The voice of Hope reminds Hero of the strength of trees, the freedom and love borne on the wings of a moth and the gentle influence of moonlight.
Hero recalls another gesture of Hope which illuminates the key to unlock the second element.
Ewe translation by Clementine Segbeaya.
Water
The Ancestors return. Encouraged by the song of Hope, Hero attempts to engage with the Ancestors but ultimately misconstrues their action as threat. Hero struggles and is then submerged by the elemental force. The Ancestors depart.
Choreography – Allison Girvan, Hiromoto Ida, Sláva Doval
After the Flood
The voice of Hope reminds Hero of the connection between sky and earth and the power of reflection. Hero recalls another gesture of Hope which illuminates the key to unlock the third element.
Persian translation by Alan Danesh
Fire
The Ancestors return. Hero has learned from the previous elements and watches the Ancestors as they each guide a firefly through flight. In wonder, Hero follows the fireflies in an attempt to catch them until there remains only one. Before departing, the last Ancestor allows Hero to capture the firefly which Hero holds for a moment before releasing it and watching it fly up and away.
Choreography – Allison Girvan
After the Fire
The voice of Hope reminds Hero of sunlight, quotidian pleasures and the song of a bee. Hero recalls another gesture of Hope which unlocks the key to the fourth element.
After the Fire is a spoken piece that holds the comfort of a parent telling a child a bedtime story except here told to Hero by the voice of Hope at the breaking of dawn. The Maker is referred to by “they/them” pronouns. This story is the acknowledgement of the divine within each of us.
In this video, the key to the subsequent element is shown at the end of the piece. The Maker is heard whistling the tune of the bee as they begin their fishing expedition. The Maker lowers a fishing hook. Hero, although curious, does not take the bait. The Maker reels in their line and switches to a more compelling lure – a phone – and lowers their line again. Hungry for connection, Hero takes this bait. Feeling the tug on the line, The Maker attempts to reel Hero in. Hero resists and eventually the line breaks. Hero is the one that got away.
Choreography – Sláva Doval
Wind
The Ancestors return. Hero attempts to connect with one then another and another with no response. After feeling sure that the path would be clear from here on out, Hero experiences the shock of renewed struggle. As Hero strains against the perpetual motion of the Ancestors, Hero’s suffering is as profound as it was at the beginning. Just as despair is beginning to manifest, Hero stops fighting and, channeling all his recollection of gestures of Hope, turns to move in the same direction as the Ancestors. In so doing, all movement slows then stops. The Ancestors leave one by one until at last, Hope is revealed to Hero.
Choreography/movement – Allison Girvan, Hiromoto Ida
After the Hurricane
The voice of Hope invites Hero to rise above temporal bonds and contemplate the infinite.
Japanese translation by Osamu Yamaguchi
Birdsong 2.0
The voice and body are reunited – Hero and Hope are bound through struggle and despite the awareness of future challenge. The Ancestors surround them in a moment out of time when the veil between the worlds is lifted and all becomes one.
Translation of Latin birdcalls:
Aurora – daybreak
Mane Lumin – morning light
Ortus – sunrise (birth, origin)
Eous – of the dawn
Lux – light
Stellam Matutinam – morning star
E Tenebris in Lucem – out of darkness, light
Tabula Rasa – Bridge Builder
Hero/Hope complete the journey and discover another Hero enveloped in despair having forgotten Hope. Hero/Hope offer the wisdom gained as a boon to the new Hero who must discover how to walk the path on her own. The Ancestors appear briefly from behind the veil between worlds. Hero/Hope depart.
Coda: The new Hero remembers a simple gesture of Hope and begins her journey.
Aurora – daybreak
Production
Story and lyrics by Allison Girvan
Original composition by Don Macdonald and Allison Girvan
Featuring Hiromoto Ida, Allison Girvan and Lalin Vocal Ensemble
Choreography by Hiromoto Ida, Slava Doval, Allison Girvan
Lighting by Olivia Bogaard
Costumes by Laurie Jarvis and Kyla Hurst
Projection by Brian Webb
Graphic Design and Marketing by Shannon Lythgoe
Sponsored by the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance and Columbia Basin Trust.