The world premiere of The Man Who Married Himself, created by Juliet Palmer and Anna Chatterton, a masque inspired by Indian and Baroque traditions, featuring choreography by Hari Krishnan. Inspired by an Indian folk tale, The Man Who Married Himself considers ideas of sexual identity. Dancers Jelani Ade-Lam and Sze-Yang Ade-Lam are proud members of the queer community who explore and consider gender in their own work and are therefore a natural and perfect fit for the piece. 

Toronto Masque Theatre commissions new work that use the masque form to reflect the diversity of Toronto and tell stories that have resonance for contemporary audiences. This production fulfils that mandate beautifully, featuring performers drawn from both Western and South Asian traditions. The range can be seen in the singers. Scott Belluz is a singing actor / operatic countertenor, Susha Rangarajanis an India-based Carnatic vocalist and Alex Samaras is a jazz vocalist in the new music scene. The singers and dancers are supported by six acclaimed instrumentalists, all under the musical direction of Larry Beckwith

Three accomplished artists from different traditions – composer Juliet Palmer, librettist Anna Chatterton and choreographer Hari Krishnan join forces to create a beautiful, thrilling allegory of the female and male at war within.

“Split my body in two. Bury my left half in flowers. Blood and bone in earth will birth a woman.”

Based on a traditional Indian folk tale, this inter-cultural masque tells the story of a man who, unwilling to marry a woman, fashions a lover for himself from his own left side. He finds himself enraptured by his creation’s perfect beauty – a mirror of his own – until he discovers that this new woman longs for another. Told by two dancers, three singers, and six instrumentalists, this unforgettable exploration of sexuality and identity draws on Baroque and Indian performance traditions and features performers drawn from both worlds, including singers Scott Belluz, Susha Rangarajan, and  Alex Samaras – dancers Jelani Ade-Lam and Sze-Yang Ade-Lam; and a chamber orchestra led by Larry Beckwith

Performances

March 10 and 11, 2017, 8:00 p.m., pre-show event at 7:15 p.m. each evening.

Matinee performance, March 11, 2017 at 2:00 p.m., pre-show event at 1:15 p.m.

Crow’s Theatre, 345 Carlaw Avenue at Dundas Street East

Tickets:  or 416-410-4561.

 

 Founded in 2003 by artistic director Larry Beckwith, Toronto Masque Theatre is one of the only companies in the world devoted to the performance of masque, an art form that results from a fusion of music, dance and theatre. Inspired by the rich courtly tradition of the late renaissance, we seek to reinvent the art form for today’s audiences, speaking to contemporary Toronto. We have produced over 50 critically acclaimed productions, ranging in repertoire from the late renaissance to the present day, including eight commissions of original work from Canadian artists.

 
 
 

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment, and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors, and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats. Reach out - bryen@thebuzzmag.ca