The
Portsmouth Grammar School present their adaptation of 'Hiawatha'.
For
most adults of a certain age some of the lines of the poem Hiawatha
are still ingrained, whether they still teach it or not I was
fascinated to see it about to be performed this Fringe.
The
set is difficult to describe apart from the fact that to my
imagination it suited the Native American lifestyle pre white man
invasion. A circle of rocks, many long poles, a raised platform and
a giant drum like sphere at the back of the stage.
The
main performers wear half-masks so that you are aware who is who.
The chants and songs are adapted from those of several Traditional
American Indian tribes including The Ojibwe, The Onondaga, Ottowa,
Algonquin, Mohawk and Sioux. The lyrics to the songs are
untranslatable as many are only chants, the dances are basically the
stomp and the pow-wow.
This
is a fascinating show and worth seeing and hearing for the
spectacular musical numbers.
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