Review by William Chan
I had the opportunity to attend a theatrical performance entitled “Howl A Bow”, organised by the local Route Arts Association last Thursday night. I was invited by one of my teachers to see the public rehearsal at Centro de Cultura e Artes Performativas Cardeal Newman de Macau (CCCN Macau) on Calçada da Vitória.
Arriving at the venue with little prior knowledge about the show, I found myself in an old house with a backyard. The side of the backyard where two trees face the road, it served as the starting point for the performance.
Three performers began reciting Allen Ginsberg’s* poem “Howl” against an unsettling musical backdrop. The poem explored themes of rebellion, sexuality, spirituality, and the human condition, where the performers acted as if they were rehearsing for an upcoming show. They continued reciting the poem at different paces, juxtaposing their recitations and combining various movements and dance.
To me, there were three main themes conveyed to the audience. The first was, of course, the Chinese translation of the poem itself, written in free verse and characterised by raw, emotional, and passionate language. The performers’ delivery and interpretation, with varying tones and emotions, created a sublime experience and an unsettling sentiment for the audience. With their exaggerated vocal expressions, the performers seemed to be on the verge of losing their sanity at any given moment, evoking a sense of a chaotic and mad world.
The second theme revolved around the connection between the poem and the environment. The building itself was erected in the 1920s, while we find ourselves in the 2020s, and the poem originated in the 1950s. Despite the temporal differences, there was no discordance among these elements. The buildings from a century ago still surrounded us, and issues of war, sexuality, and the human condition remain relevant today. It seemed that some in the neighbourhood were annoyed by the performers’ voices, which reflected our own detachment from global issues and the suffering of others, both then and now.
One of the neighbours expressed his disgust by hurling chicken bones at the performers.
The final theme explored theatrical aesthetics and the interpretation of art, interspersed between the recitations of the poem. The performers questioned how art becomes accessible, delved into the essence of art itself, and even posed philosophical questions like why “green” is called green. While the previous theme transported the audience to another time and space, these enquiries about the philosophy of art split the listeners’ consciousness, drawing them into deeper layers of thought.
The show started off strongly, but as we moved to different parts of the backyard, with performers engaging in other activities such as playing with bamboo sticks used by construction workers and performing a shadow play, the profound impact of the first act was not fully matched.
Surprisingly, the last act felt completely disjointed. We walked around the sides of the backyard as a group and ended up inside the house, where a man dressed like a monk played spiritual music in a dark corner. Supposedly, we were meant to sit quietly and be healed by the music, accompanied by the sounds of gongs, charms, and other ancient instruments. However, the noise from outside, whether intentional or not, made it difficult to completely isolate ourselves from the ongoing matters of the world.
Overall, “Howl A Bow” presented a thought-provoking performance, with the initial act leaving a lasting impact. The connection between the poem, the environment, and the exploration of artistic interpretation added depth to the experience. Although the subsequent acts did not match the profoundness of the beginning, the show as a whole offered a unique and immersive journey.
The performance lasted about 1 ½ hours.
*Irwin Allen Ginsberg (1926 - 1997) was a US poet and writer.
Artists perform at the Centro de Cultura e Artes Performativas Cardeal Newman de Macau (CCCN Macau) last Thursday night. – Photos provided by Route Arts Association
