Page 56 - Studio International - June 1974

Narcissus: it. The notion of metamorphosis, imaginary; to exist in, even to become, of Ovid's Metamorphoses, tells of a
projection and reflection clearly a paradox ? Can we 'know the dancer nymph Liripoe who, stepping down
the new Black excites and preoccupies members of from the dance?' These questions into the river Cephisus, was embraced
the group individually and cannot be answered directly and any and entered by it. The river-god's
Box Theatre collectively and their desire is to lead attempt to explain in ordinary seed grew in her and in time she bore
the audience into a multi-sensational language the experience of the Narcissus. Pride or anxiety made her
production experience of the concept. The New Black Box Theatre's new production seek out Tiresias the blind seer, whose
Black Box has been expressly would be futile; vide Wittgenstein : prophecies were infallible. He
The Black Box Theatre will be structured for this, distance equating 'There is indeed the inexpressible foresaw long life for the child if he
touring England later this year. with space and time, landscapes being This shows itself ; it is the mystical.' could avoid 'knowing himself'.
In the Group are : John Epstein used not merely as background but to The term 'narcissism' and its Narcissus grew in beauty to his
Carol Frame, Robert Burne, Sasha express qualities of personality. psychological connotations are sixteenth year aloof and immune to
Kagan, David Sawyer, Reiner Burger, What does it feel like to be a possibly better-known today than the passions of youth, although many
Lindsay Davidson, Julia Newsham, painter before, during and after the the myth itself; to quote Havelock pressed for his regard and amongst
Peter Tegel. As in their first work painting of a picture — if, indeed, the Ellis : 'The figure of Narcissus had them the nymph Echo, cursed by
Change, where the group used as a process can be said to have a wandered down from classic times Hera to repeat only the last words she
frame of reference the Herman Hesse beginning or an end ? Can an to modern times, from legend into heard. Narcissus, wandering alone,
story 'Piktor's Metamorphosis', their individual, or an assembly of literature and hence into popular came upon a clear pool and knelt to
new production Narcissus has for its individuals, be led to share in it; to phrase, long before it entered into drink of its bright water. His own
warp and weft the Narcissus myth and know, beyond rationality, the sexual psychology.' The myth, in its image drew him and instantly his
again, a theatre uniquely designed for relationship of the real to the oldest preserved text, the third book reflection became his love and for

(Top left) The wood for Narcissus
(Above) Narcissus and Aeminius
(Right) River curtain