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Suzanne Benton performing Demeter and Persephone, Eleusis, Greece
SUZANNE BENTON . MASK AND RITUAL TALES
Knowing that tales of the past hold precious secrets, humans throughout time have
looked to sacred texts, myths, and life stories, hoping to gain access to a measure of
distilled wisdom. Suzanne Benton's mask performances lay that wisdom bare to those
who hear and see her tales.
In cultures throughout the world, forms of traditional mask dance drama combine
stylized voice, movement, and character masks to enact stories of human and divine
experience. Benton has created her own version of this ancient dramatic practice,
performing it for over 30 years to audiences ranging from 50 to 5000 in 29 countries.
Benton welds her expressive and unique masks out of steel, sometimes brazing them
with bronze and uses them in performances that reclaim tales from worldwide
sources, transforming them into personal and moving life stories.
It is a profound experience to hear at last from Abraham's wife, Sarah, and Hagar,
her handmaid; from the Greek goddess Demeter, and her daughter, Persephone;
from the Japanese sun goddess, Amaterasu; from the Christian Mary; from a Bengali
bride; from Lilith, Adam's first wife; and from an old Japanese woman. Benton's
stories unlock the voices of these women and many others. In her performances we
find that their long silenced strength and vision is still very much alive.
Benton transforms herself into a panoply of multi-cultural characters, and brings our
mythic, historic, and religious inheritance to life. Her embodiment of each character
evokes depths of human compassion, identification, and understanding that audiences
rarely have the chance to experience.
For further information: suzanne @suzannemasks.com
SUZANNE BENTON . MASK AND RITUAL TALES
Knowing that tales of the past hold precious secrets, humans throughout time have
looked to sacred texts, myths, and life stories, hoping to gain access to a measure of
distilled wisdom. Suzanne Benton's mask performances lay that wisdom bare to those
who hear and see her tales.
In cultures throughout the world, forms of traditional mask dance drama combine
stylized voice, movement, and character masks to enact stories of human and divine
experience. Benton has created her own version of this ancient dramatic practice,
performing it for over 30 years to audiences ranging from 50 to 5000 in 29 countries.
Benton welds her expressive and unique masks out of steel, sometimes brazing them
with bronze and uses them in performances that reclaim tales from worldwide
sources, transforming them into personal and moving life stories.
It is a profound experience to hear at last from Abraham's wife, Sarah, and Hagar,
her handmaid; from the Greek goddess Demeter, and her daughter, Persephone;
from the Japanese sun goddess, Amaterasu; from the Christian Mary; from a Bengali
bride; from Lilith, Adam's first wife; and from an old Japanese woman. Benton's
stories unlock the voices of these women and many others. In her performances we
find that their long silenced strength and vision is still very much alive.
Benton transforms herself into a panoply of multi-cultural characters, and brings our
mythic, historic, and religious inheritance to life. Her embodiment of each character
evokes depths of human compassion, identification, and understanding that audiences
rarely have the chance to experience.
For further information: suzanne @suzannemasks.com
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tel/fax 203 438-4650
tel/fax 203 438-4650