Arena gives Eliot reading

Expect a bang, not a whimper, this weekend in the Frieze Building when Basement Arts unveils a theatrical presentation of T.S. Eliot's masterpiece "The Waste Land," adapted and directed by Music sophomore Andrew Bielski.

Probably the most critically acclaimed poem of the 20th Century, "The Waste Land" has been molded to fit on the stage, although none of the original text has been removed or altered. Bielski has separated the work into distinct voices, which will be read by an ensemble of nine actors.

This interpretation of the poem will be an exploration in a wholly unacademic way. While reams of criticism on the piece are available in the library, Bielski intentionally hasn't read any of it. His only inspiration was the poem itself.

"I first read the poem two years ago and it struck me. It resonated within me on a spiritual level," Bielski said. In an attempt to make the poem more accessible, Bielski created a stimulating experience for himself, the ensemble and the audience.

Bielski views the poem as being primarily about connection and perception very rich in theme and symbolism. The protagonist, whom Bielski created from the text, is a man full of contempt who isolates himself from the world. The other characters each represent a facet of his being and their interactions explore how we separate ourselves from our own experiences.

For his directorial debut, Bielski wanted to do something exciting and exploratory. He has allowed his actors complete freedom to create their own roles by using improvisation games to make for a collaborative rehearsal process.

"Eliot's writing style is very theatrical and, hence, conducive to what we'll be doing," he explained. Though he saw no need to alter the text in any way for this presentation, Bielski added some elements for the stage. "The piece is full of allusions to other literary works, so we've incorporated these other works into our play." Music has been added to heighten the text and the play will be performed in the round.

Bielski claims no pretense at realism for this work. "It is solely a piece of performance," he says. Although there have been other attempts at converting Eliot's work to the stage, Bielski insists that this production is unique.

"You'll never see anything like this again," he said.

11-12-98