Rite of Spring had story to tell, but plot got lost

One of the final 2008 Spoleto Festival USA offerings opened Saturday night to a well-filled Gaillard Auditorium. The Compagnie Heddy Maalem danced their way through a curious fusion of Igor Stravinsky's tradition-breaking ballet music "Le Sacre du Printemps" (The Rite of Spring) and various sound effects that the French call "musique concrete," an electronic mix of instrumental and natural sounds on tape.

The audience was alive with anticipation when the house lights dimmed and the sound of thunder and rain filled the theater. After a few minutes, it was clear that there were two figures on an otherwise barren and dimly lit stage. The thunder and rain stopped and the house lights came back up. A spectral, disembodied female voice announced they were having technical difficulties.

After another few minutes the house lights dimmed again and the thunder and rain returned. After that, it was fairly clear sailing, with a group of six females and eight males doing some dance moves that appeared to be calisthenics mixed with contortions.

Interjected with the Stravinsky were loud, repetitive hammerings or strikes or other noises that accompanied out-of-focus contemporary projections on a large rear screen.

Despite the vigorously active and extraordinarily well-organized dance troupe, the story line was vague, if not indecipherable. This was unfortunate, since the dancers, who mostly hail from West African nations, are an obviously dedicated and talented group who danced their hearts out.

Heddy Maalem, the choreographer, had a story to tell, but it failed to communicate. The ending was poorly staged so that the audience did not know if the show was over or not, particularly when that ghostly female voice announced in the middle of the curtain calls that audience members staying for the post-performance Q & A should move closer to the stage.

The program repeats today at 2 p.m.