Kari
Tikka: Love is Strong as Death
Opera
Composer’s
libretto
2014-2020
translated
by Katie Tikka
(more info about the Opera here)
Synopsis
The Father, the Mother, and their Son, Adam, are preparing the banquet hall of the great house for Adam’s wedding. Their servants are helping them. The wedding party arrives, including children dressed as animals. The Father presents his servant, Levi, to the guests. Levi is in the form of a mighty fire-breathing beast, Leviathan …. Fun, but also a little frightening. Levi changes his appearance and is now a butler. The Father rejoices over his wonderful servants: Cindy, Helena, Leo, Morten, and Levi. Adam and Eva arrive, looking radiant on their wedding day. The Father and the Mother bless their marriage. Everyone raises their glasses to the bride and groom. Joy, light, singing … the wedding dance begins. Suddenly, masked men appear and steal the bride, as Cindy sweeps the groom up into the swirl of the dance. The bride is returned, and the joyful wedding procession leads the wedding couple to the bedroom.
Wedding night. The day dawns. Adam and Eva are joking around, enjoying each other's company. They go to the "garden of paradise." Adam praises his wife, and Eva praises her husband. Both of them praise the love they have for each other. The wind of love is blowing.
The Father and the Mother's prophecy: Love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave …. Love can only be compared with death.
The Father invites the wedding party into the banquet hall: "The celebration will continue, but the rhythm of the dance is changing. I have made a difficult decision, but one that is necessary for all of us. Servants, take the wedding couple into life's deepest waters." The servants and the wedding party change their appearance to strange masked figures. The dance of death begins joyfully, but gradually becomes tight and constrained. The wedding party notices Adam and Eva's new arrangement: Eva and Leo in one place, Adam and Cindy in another. The two couples are drawing apart, caressing each other. The atmosphere changes. There is a dark mood, dim lighting. The servants, Eva, and the wedding party mock the hosts. The dance of death changes into the mocking ritual. The Father and the Mother do not help Adam. Led by Levi and Morten, the people kick and maul Adam to death. The house is set on fire. Dying, the Father and the Mother repeat: Love is strong as death ….
Intermission
Beggars, sick people, homeless people, and stray dogs are wandering around the ruins of the great house. Eva sings apathetically to her child and pleads in vain for a piece of bread from those passing by. The people begin the lament for the dead Father and for their own predicament: "You invited us to the celebration, you gave power to your servants, your servants betrayed you. All along you had a plan. We betrayed you, killed you, burned down your house, killed ourselves, burned down our own house. All along you had a plan. We have sunk into the depths. Cry out, cry out, lament!"
Cindy, Helena, Leo, Levi, and Morten arrive noisily in a shady, ragtag theater company. With them is their helper, a drifter named Charlie. They perform Levi's meaningless fire show and Cindy's half-hearted dance. The people are forced to sing and dance, in the end using up all their money and provisions. Kicking, spitting, and cursing, the theater company leaves. Morten: "Hey Charlie, go buy that lady's kid; we can fetch a good price for him."
Eva sells their son to Charlie for a stolen piece of bread. Their eyes meet. Something happens ….
Eva and Adam realize who they are. Eva is overwhelmed with shame, anger, and self-loathing: "I betrayed you! Why were our lives ruined? Your parents ruined our marriage on purpose. I hate them! I … I … I killed you, I killed myself. I can never love anyone again."
Adam: "Your suffering is my suffering. Your shame is my shame. Your hell is my hell. Your death is my death. You are mine and I am yours."
Together again: "My beloved is mine and I am his/hers."
The Father and the Mother have been watching these developments. Led by the Mother, they begin to gather everyone together for the great reconciliation celebration. The weapons of love wound first the servants crouching in darkness, then the people who have sunk into the gloom. Even the wild beasts are calmed, and all of creation is freed …. The wind of love is blowing. The hosts and the servants leave to rebuild the ruined house. The people and Eva are left to wait, a bit perplexed ….
The banquet hall is prepared for the celebration, as in the beginning of the story. The guests are invited in, dressed in their finery. The Father wishes everyone a loving welcome. Singing, dancing, games ….
The wedding party moves to the garden. Adam and Eva: "All this turned out just as we were hoping and praying for on our wedding night." Levi organizes magnificent fireworks.
Final dance: "Love is strong as death, its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord."
ROLES
Eva, soprano
Mother, mezzosoprano
Adam, high baritone
Father, low baritone
Servants:
Cindy, high soprano
Helena, alto
Leo, tenor
Levi, baritone
Morten, bass
Choir (SATB)
Children’s choir
Dancers
Orchestra/piano score
The opera is made up of two acts, seven scenes:
Scene 1. In the banquet hall of the great house
Scene 2. In the bedroom of the great house
Scene 3. In the banquet hall of the great house
intermission
Scene 4. At the scorched ruins of the great house
Scene 5. At the scorched ruins of the great house
Scene 6. First at the ruins, then in different places in a forest
Scene 7. First in the banquet hall of the great house (as in Scene 1)
then in the garden of light
Duration of the opera
Act I: 58 minutes
Act II: 58 minutes
ACT I
SCENE 1
(The banquet hall of the great house is dim, awaiting the start of the celebration. From offstage comes the sound of a few light steps and someone clearing their throat)
FATHER: (humming brightly) Hm, hm, hm. Hm, hm, hm…
ADAM: (arrives onstage, hearing the Father’s humming, preparing the banquet hall for the celebration, answers the Father’s humming) Hm, hm, hm. Hm, hm, hm…
FATHER: (arrives onstage, answers Adam’s humming)
FATHER, ADAM: (playing joyfully together) Hm, hm, hm. Hm, hm, hm…
(They give the signal to the servants to come forward) Now, now, now! Lights on! Lights on! Lights on! (The servants turn the lights on)
MOTHER: (comes onstage when she sees the lights, finishes arranging the flowers, etc.) Hm, hm, hm. Hm, hm, hm...
MOTHER, FATHER, ADAM: (walk around the hall in joyful anticipation: “Soon the celebration will begin!”) Hm, hm, hm. Hm, hm, hm...
SERVANTS (CINDY, HELENA, LEO, LEVI, and MORTEN): (preparing the banquet hall for the celebration) Yes! Yes! Yes! Ready! Ready! Ready! (At the Father’s signal, the servants bring the wedding party to the banquet hall)
MOTHER, FATHER, ADAM: Yes! Yes! Yes! Ready! Ready! Ready!
(The wedding guests arrive: children, adults, and guests dressed as animals. More and more guests arrive. The Father and the Mother greet the guests)
(The children and Adam play with the animals. The guests are chatting with each other in different places around the banquet hall. The Mother is walking around talking to the guests)
FATHER: (presents his friend Leviathan to the children with pride and joy)
Come and meet my very best friend, Leviathan, Leviathan!
King of the beasts, Leviathan, Leviathan!
(joking with Leviathan) Now let’s have a proper wrestling match, my old friend!
Come on, show us what you’ve got! (Leviathan’s show for the children)
Can you catch me, or not? Wow, what lovely teeth in your muzzle! Want a bite of me?
(Adam and Eve leave the banquet hall)
FATHER: (to Levi) Hey! What is that you’re wearing there?
Here’s a taste of my sword for you! Just like that!
(With the sword, the Father opens a hole in the sea creature’s (Levi’s) costume. The beast loses his power and lies down on the ground)
FATHER and CHILDREN’S CHOIR: Come and meet my very best friend, Leviathan, Leviathan!
King of the beasts, Leviathan, Leviathan!
(Leviathan continues to lie powerless on the ground)
FATHER: (entertaining his guests before the meal, continues teasing Leviathan) Look at how powerful, how muscular, how strong his body is. Backbone harder than iron!
He’s not frightened, he’s not frightened, I gave him a heart of stone!
He’s always resting calmly no matter how much I might provoke him!
FATHER, CHOIR, and CHILDREN’S CHOIR: Come and meet my very best friend Leviathan, Leviathan!
King of the beasts, Leviathan, Leviathan!
CINDY, HELENA, LEO, and MORTEN: (singing while preparing the meal)
Levi, Levi. Levi, Levi!
FATHER: Should I stab his side with a whaling spear?
Should I hit his head with a harpoon?
(The sea creature Leviathan gets up suddenly)
FATHER: Watch out!
(Flames burst from Leviathan’s mouth! Everyone comes to watch Leviathan’s magnificent fire show. Leviathan performs tricks and demonstrates his great strength!)
FATHER: Flames burst from his mouth! Smoke rises from his nostrils!
Come and light this stack of wood on fire!
FATHER, CHOIR, and CHILDREN’S CHOIR: (happy about the wonderful show)
Come and meet my very best friend, Leviathan, Leviathan!
King of the beasts, Leviathan, Leviathan!
CINDY, HELENA, LEO, and MORTEN: Levi, Levi, Levi, Levi!
(Levi changes his appearance from Leviathan to a butler)
FATHER and LEVI: Levi, my best friend, you hide your identity wrapped in various garments.
FATHER: Now you appear as a butler serving at my son’s great feast.
FATHER: (gives instructions to the servants, the guests sit down at the tables, food and drinks are served) Cindy, you are Levi’s assistant. Please could you come serve us, my dear!
You are Leo, in the service of freedom. I am hungry, can’t you give me something, I am thirsty, can’t you give me something right now! (Leo brings the Father a drink and continues serving the guests. The Father notices Morten)
Morten, Morten, you’re the master of the dance! How will you make us dance today? How will you make us dance today? How will you make us dance today?
Helena, Helena, you, queen of the kitchen! You, duchess of delicacies!
You, fairest lady of finest liquors! Helena, Helena! (Helena continues her work)
I thank you, Levi, Cindy, and Leo, Morten and Helena! Thank you all, my beloved servants, my friends, you make my thoughts a reality. (The Father gives a sign to the servants. The wedding couple (Adam and Eva) arrives. The butler Levi leads them into the banquet hall)
CHOIR: Lovely bride! Handsome groom!
CHOIR and CHILDREN’S CHOIR: Beautiful!
EVERYONE except ADAM and EVA: Glorious! Glorious! Glorious!
Marriage Ceremony
(The Father and the Mother bless Adam and Eva’s marriage)
ADAM and EVA: I love you! I love you! I love you!
MOTHER, FATHER, CHOIR and CHILDREN’S CHOIR: (raising their glasses to the bride and groom) All our love! All our love! All our love!
(Congratulating the bride and groom)
EVERYONE: Rejoice now! Rejoice now! Rejoice now!
Wedding Dance
ENTIRE WEDDING PARTY: Dah, dah, dah…
(Something happens, the dance is interrupted. Led by Levi, the servants enter the hall wearing masks)
FATHER: Watch out! They’re stealing the bride away! What is happening to the groom?
(The servants lead Eva out. Cindy grabs Adam and takes him to dance. Everyone dances)
EVERYONE: (singing the wedding dance melody louder than the first time) Ah, ah, ah. Ah, ah, ah. Ah, ah, ah…
(Eva is brought back. Preparations are made for the wedding procession)
Wedding Procession
(The wedding couple is led in a procession to the bedroom)
CHOIR and CHILDREN’S CHOIR: Off now to the wedding chamber, your night together! Go enjoy it! King of the beasts, your night together! Go enjoy it!
FATHER, MOTHER, CINDY, HELENA, LEO, LEVI, and MORTEN: Adam, Eva! Adam, Eva! Adam, Eva!
WOMEN and CHILDREN: (looking at Adam) Look and see how strong, how powerful his muscles are!
EVERYONE: Backbone harder than iron!
CHOIR and CHILDREN’S CHOIR: Off now to the wedding chamber, your night together! Go enjoy it! Queen of the beasts, your night together! Go enjoy it!
FATHER, MOTHER, CINDY, HELENA, LEO, LEVI, and MORTEN: Adam, Eva! Adam, Eva! Adam, Eva!
MEN: (looking at Eva) Look and see how beautiful her body is!
EVERYONE: Golden crown in her soft hair!
EVERYONE, also ADAM and EVA: Dah, dah, dah! Dah, dah, dah…
(The wedding procession leaves the stage. The wedding couple are led to the marriage bed)
(The lights dim, the procession crowd leaves…)
ADAM, EVA: (Soft movements and sounds. Adam and Eva to the bedroom. Humming, playing)
Hm, hm, hm. Hm, hm, hm… Now, now, now, now! (soft sounds, the lights darken, silence)
SCENE 2
(Darkness, silence. A new day dawns little by little)
ADAM: (in his sleep) That was no wedding dance!
(wakes up) Queen of the beasts!
EVA: (wakes up) Leviathan!
ADAM: What an animal you are!
EVA: King of the beasts!
ADAM, EVA: Leviathan, Leviathan!
ADAM: You are my gazelle!
EVA: Wild deer!
ADAM: Grasshopper!
EVA: Dragonfly!
ADAM: Owl!
EVA: Vulture!
ADAM: Lizard!
EVA: Frog! A warty common toad!
ADAM: (gets the wedding crown and places it in Eva’s hair) Golden crown in her soft hair!
ADAM and EVA: (embrace for a long time) What a beautiful gaze!
ADAM, EVA: (playing) Nose, nose, nose, nose!
EVA: Cheeks, cheeks, cheeks, cheeks!
ADAM: Cheeks, cheeks, cheeks, cheeks and nose, nose, nose, nose!
EVA: Mouth, mouth, lips, lips! Tongue like honey!
ADAM: Mouth, mouth, lips, lips! Teeth like a flock of newly shorn sheep!
Your belly round as an oven-fresh bun!
EVA: Oven-fresh bun! It’s your fault!
ADAM: Your breasts are full like a cluster of fruit!
EVA: Cluster of fruit!
ADAM: Your embrace is sweet as wine!
EVA: Sweet as wine!
ADAM: Your figure is like an elegant palm tree!
EVA: Palm tree!
ADAM: I want to climb up this beautiful palm tree!
EVA: You want to climb up! You want to climb up!
ADAM: Calves, thighs, ah!
EVA: They’ve been good for walking.
ADAM: Skin so soft. Tastes so wonderful. Should we go?
EVA: Under the apple tree,
ADAM: under the fig tree,
EVA: to the mountain of myrrh,
ADAM: to the hill of frankincense,
EVA: to the vineyard,
ADAM: to the side of the streams,
EVA: to the riverbanks,
ADAM, EVA: to the springs!
Milk and honey, wine and oil,
ADAM: juicy figs, saffron and cinnamon,
EVA: figs and apples,
ADAM, EVA: myrrh and balsam.
ADAM: Rise up, my beloved, my fair one, and come with me now.
Look! The winter is past, the rains are now over and gone.
Flowers bursting into bloom, now the time has come to sing,
doves are cooing in the trees, vines are giving forth their fragrance.
Rise up, my beloved, my fair one, and come with me now.
My dove, hiding on the mountainside, open your heart to me!
Come and let me see your face, come and let me hear your voice,
for you have the sweetest voice,
and your face is beautiful!
EVA: Your love’s deepest essence and power
come forth when you touch your finger to my lips
and make me perfectly quiet.
I rest peacefully at your side and sink into love, sink into love.
Make my peace so deep that for even one time
it could be the source of our love.
If
we get no water from our spring our love will not bear fruit,
our love will not bear fruit.
ADAM: I rest peacefully at your side and sink into love, sink into love.
EVA: Ah, ah, ah…
EVA and ADAM: Make my peace so deep that for now and always
it could be the source of our love.
Prophecy
FATHER and MOTHER: Love is strong as death, strong as death,
jealousy fierce and unyielding as the grave,
its flashes as flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can mighty floods drown it out.
Love is strong as death, strong as death,
jealousy fierce and unyielding as the grave.
SCENE 3
(The Father invites the entire wedding party into the banquet hall)
FATHER: Honoured wedding guests! Dear Adam and Eva!
The party goes on, but the rhythm of the dance is changing!
I have made a serious decision, serious decision.
A decision that for my son and for us all is inescapable.
My dear servants! Take my son
FATHER and MOTHER: And his sweet young wife into life’s deepest waters,
deepest waters. Into life’s deepest waters.
FATHER, MOTHER, and CHOIR: Deepest waters. Deepest waters.
FATHER: My servants, you know how, you understand,
you are experienced and skilful.
You always carry out my will. I give you free rein! I trust in you.
Now let us dress ourselves in the tradition of the age-old dance.
(The people put on masquerade costumes)
FATHER: To this dance we are all invited! To this dance we are all invited!
Morten, how will you make us dance today? How will you make us dance today?
Helena, you’re the queen of chaos! High ruler of hell!
Mistress of dark magic! Helena, Helena!
Keep in mind, Leo, you're in the service of freedom.
Eva’s hungry, can’t you give her something? Eva’s thirsty, can’t you give her something right now!
Cindy, I am speechless before you!
Why don’t you share your beauty with everyone?
FATHER and LEVI: (playing) Levi, my best friend,
you hide your identity wrapped in various garments.
FATHER: Now you will conduct us all, playing at my son’s great feast.
LEVI: (leading the wedding party into the dance) Off now to the celebration, your dance together! Go enjoy it!
The Dance of Death
(The servants position the wedding party into a dance formation.
The wedding dance begins joyfully. Little by little, the servants force the wedding party to move in a certain way. Then the servants direct the dancing with whips. The joy of the dance is lost.)
LEO: (he and Eva have moved away from the others, into a private conversation)
Your figure is like an elegant palm tree.
EVA: Palm tree.
LEO: I want to climb up this beautiful palm tree.
EVA: You want to climb up.
CINDY: (she and Adam have moved away from the others, standing off to one side, close to each other)
I rest peacefully at your side and sink into love, sink into love.
ADAM: Ah, ah, ah.
(The wedding guests notice Adam and Eva’s new arrangement)
CHOIR: Adam, Eva, want to celebrate!
(The servants whip them to into a faster and more frenzied dance)
CHOIR: Tired out! Had enough! We never get a rest!
HELENA, LEVI and MORTEN: Now let the sweet grey twilight come
(The atmosphere changes, dim lighting, an odd feeling…)
HELENA and LEVI: (mockingly) Into life’s deepest waters.
MORTEN: (cursing) Into death’s coldest waters.
(The wedding guests are forced to continue the frantic dance, they watch Adam and Eve’s bizarre actions)
CHOIR: Adam, Eva can still celebrate!
Tired out! Had enough! We never get a rest! Tired out! Had enough! We never get a rest!
LEO: (very close to Eva) Skin so soft! Tastes so wonderful! Should we go?
EVA: Under the apple tree,
LEO: under the fig tree,
EVA: to the mountain of myrrh,
LEO: to the hill of frankincense,
EVA: to the vineyard,
LEO: to the side of the streams,
EVA: to the riverbanks,
ADAM: (very close to Cindy) I rest peacefully at your side and sink into love, sink into love.
CINDY: Ah…
LEO and EVA: to the springs.
ADAM, CINDY, LEO, and EEVA: Ah…
MOTHER and FATHER: Into life’s deepest waters.
(The lighting darkens. The odd feeling increases…)
LEVI and MORTEN: Into death’s shadow.
HELENA: Black cloud! Black cloud!
(Levi and Morten mockingly repeat the instructions given to them by the Father. They look at the Father and the Mother, who are having a calm discussion.)
LEVI: You know how, you understand, you are experienced and skilful!
MORTEN: (mimicking the Father’s voice and expression) You always carry out my will!
LEVI: (whipping the dancing group to dance more quickly) I give you free rein!
LEVI and MORTEN: (laughing) I trust in you!
CHOIR: Tired out! Had enough! We never get a rest! Tired out! Had enough! We never get a rest!
(Cindy suddenly leaves Adam, goes to Eva and Leo)
(The servants and Eva have a quick meeting)
EVA, SERVANTS: We’ve made a serious decision that for the Father's Son and for all of us is inescapable!
CHOIR: (end of whipping) All of us is inescapable!
(Adam is seized violently.
The wedding guests are released from the “Dance of Death”)
Mocking Ritual
(The servants, Eva, and the choir surround Adam, theatrically mocking and abusing him, like animals)
(The Father and the Mother are having a calm discussion at the edge of the stage, as if they didn’t know anything about what is happening around them)
LEVI: Now let’s have a proper contest, my boy!
Come on, show us what you’ve got!
MORTEN, LEVI, and LEO: Can you catch me, or not?
CHOIR: Hah-hah-hah-hah-hah!
LEVI: What a fine outfit you’ve got there!
MORTEN: What fine muscles you’ve got there!
LEO: (with his arm around Eva) Hey! Where is your sweet young wife?
LEVI, MORTEN, and LEO: He’s not frightened, he’s not frightened, even when I provoke him.
LEVI: (stabs through Adam’s clothes with a sword)
Here’s a taste of my sword for you! Just like that!
CHOIR: (mocking, mimicking how the Father and Levi were playing)
Hah-hah-hah-hah-hah!
Come and meet your very best friend, Leviathan! King of the beasts, great King Leviathan!
(Adam lies on the ground beaten, humiliated, and almost naked. A fake crown is placed on his head in mockery)
CINDY, EVA, HELENA, and LEO: Adam, Adam, Adam, Adam!
LEVI and MORTEN: Hit him! Beat him! Kick him!
(Adam is beaten and kicked)
MEN of the CHOIR: Look and see how beautiful his body is!
SERVANTS, EVA, and CHOIR: Golden crown in his soft hair!
ADAM: Father, help me!
(The Father and the Mother do not react to Adam’s cry)
CHOIR: Come and meet your very best friend, Leviathan!
King of the beasts, great King Leviathan!
LEVI, MORTEN: Break him! Maul him! Crush him!
(Adam is beaten, covered in blood, dying…)
WOMEN of the CHOIR: Look and see how strong, how powerful his muscles are!
CHOIR: Backbone harder than iron!
ADAM: Father, help me!
(The Father and the Mother do nothing. They appear to be watching blankly from a distance)
CINDY, EVA, MOTHER, HELENA, LEO and FATHER: Adam, Adam, Adam!
LEVI and MORTEN: Kill him! Adam! (Adam is killed)
Them too! Kill his Father and Mother! (The Father and the Mother are beaten, mauled, and left to die)
Now let’s light all of this shit on fire! Fire!
CHOIR: On fire! On fire! On fire! Hah-hah-hah-hah-hah!
On fire! On fire! On fire! Hah-hah-hah-hah-hah!
(Levi is dressed in the dragon costume as in Scene 1. Everyone laughs and joins Levi in lighting everything on fire. They walk around admiring the destruction)
FATHER and MOTHER: Love is strong as death, strong as death,
jealousy fierce and unyielding as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can mighty floods drown it out… (they die)
(The fire gradually dies down. Eva, the servants, and the wedding guests leave. The bodies of Adam, the Father, and the Mother remain on the stage. The stage is getting dim - empty, dark, and desolate...)
ACT II
SCENE 4
Lament
(At the ruins of the great house. Dark, like at the end of Act I. Destitute people wander around, searching for things left in the ruins. Beggars, sick people, cripples, children, stray dogs. One person is trying to sell something, another is asking passers-by for a piece of bread…)
EVA: (a hopeless, abandoned beggar sings to her child apathetically, repeating the same thing)
Ah, ah, ah, ah…
(She holds out her hand, asking passers-by for a piece of bread, in vain…)
(Continuing in the same way) Ah, ah, ah, ah…
(Eva uses all her remaining strength to stand up) Ah, ah…
CHOIR: (lament for the dead Father)
You invited us here to the party. All along you had a plan.
You gave all the power to your servants. All along you had a plan.
Then your servants mocked you and betrayed you. All along you had a plan.
We also betrayed you, betrayed you and ourselves. All along you had a plan.
We beat you and crushed you, we beat and crushed ourselves. All along you had a plan.
Finally we killed you, we killed ourselves as well. All along you had a plan.
We burned your home to ash, we burned our home as well. All along you had a plan.
In the deep, in the deep, we have sunk, we have sunk.
In the deep, in the deep, we have sunk, we have sunk.
Cry out, cry out, weep and wail! Cry out, cry out, weep and wail!
All along you had a plan.
EVA: Ah, ah, ah…
CHOIR: Cry out, cry out, weep and wail! Cry out, cry out, weep and wail!
EVA: Ah, ah, ah…
(The choir is leaving the stage)
CHOIR: All along you had a plan. All along you had a plan.
(Eva remains in the dimly lit back part of the stage)
SCENE 5
(The ragtag theater company loudly arrives onstage. The people are interested and come back. The theater company includes Cindy, Helena, Leo, Levi, and Morten, as well as their assistant, a drifter named Charlie.)
LEO: Ringmaster Morten and his AMBULÀNCÉ [over-the-top foreign accent] theater proudly present the dance and fire show, which is based on true events and persons.
MORTEN: This is the king of the beasts, Leviathan! Deadly flames burst from his gaping jaws! Watch out!
Levi’s Fire Show
(A half-baked copy of the fire show in Act I. The people are barely paying attention. The performers are in worn-out clothes)
CINDY, HELENA, LEO, CHARLIE (ADAM) and MORTEN: King of the beasts, work your magic, give us fire! King of the beasts, work your magic, give us fire!
Look and see how powerful its muscles are. Backbone harder than iron! (The performers do not pay attention to the audience, repeating their routine multiple times)
King of the beasts, Leviathan, Leviathan! King of the beasts, Leviathan, Leviathan!
MORTEN: Cindy, my beloved, our fair one, come with me now. My dove, our little prima donna, dance for us.
Cindy’s Dance
(Cindy: an arrogant dancer who has already seen her best days)
MORTEN: All of you, come with me! (Everyone is forced to sing along, with difficulty. Cindy stops her dance at some point. Charlie/Adam carries her off to rest)
EVERYONE: Dah, dah, dah…
LEO: We’re just a group of poor and starving artists… a thirsty group of poor and starving artists. We ask for candle stubs so we can light our star.
(They make the people pay, taking their coins, bread, etc. Levi and Cindy also walk around collecting things and scoffing at the people)
MORTEN: (laughing at Helena, who is off to the side drinking straight from a liquor bottle) Helena, you, fairest lady of finest liquors! You, queen of chaos! Show us what you can do!
(He sends Helena to take the last supplies and items from the beggars. Helena is kicking, spitting, and making a mess…)
MORTEN: (notices Eva) Hey, Charlie! Go buy that beggar bitch’s little kid! We’ll sell it for a decent profit.
(Charlie/Adam goes to Eva, who is crouching off to one side. He uses the stolen of pieces of bread to buy Eva’s and his child.)
(The theater company disappears quickly, shouting obscenities at the people, shoving them around, and making a huge racket and mess)
SCENE 6
ADAM: Here’s some bread for you. Give the child to me.
(Eva gives the child to Adam. The people gradually leave the stage. They can still be heard for a little while.)
(Adam looks at the child in his arms, stops, looks at Eva. Eva slowly looks at Adam… something happens)
EVA and ADAM: (humming) Hm, hm, hm. Hm, hm, hm. Hm, hm, hm…
Ah, ah, ah… ah, ah, ah… (they understand the situation)
What a beautiful gaze!
(Eva withdraws to the side. Adam tries to encourage her. She is not consoled)
Eva’s Monologue
EVA: I hate myself! I despise myself! I’m ashamed of myself!
I hate, I hate, I... I... I hate myself!
I… I… I betrayed you!
In the deep, in the deep, I have sunk.
Cry out, cry out, weep and wail! Cry out, cry out, weep and wail!
Cry out, cry out, weep and wail! Cry out, cry out, weep and wail!
Why did our life end up in ruins?
Your Father arranged our wedding.
He gave all the power to his servants. All along he had a plan.
His servants betrayed him. All along he had a plan.
Your Mother was silent. All along she had a plan.
Your parents ruined our marriage on purpose. All along they had a plan.
I hate your Father. I hate your Mother. I despise them both.
I hate your Father. I hate your Mother. I despise them both.
I hate, I hate, I… I…
I hate, I’m ashamed of myself.
I… I… I killed you. I killed myself.
Did I have a plan?
Cry out, cry out, weep and wail! Cry out, cry out, weep and wail!
How can you care about someone like me?
I can never love again.
ADAM: Your pain is my pain. Your shame is my shame.
Your hell is my hell. Your death is my death.
Your pain is my pain. Your shame is my shame.
(The Father and the Mother move silently far off in the background)
Your hell is my hell. Your death is my death.
You are mine and I am yours. You are mine and I am yours.
ADAM and EVA: My beloved is mine and I am hers/his.
My beloved is mine and I am hers/his.
I am yours and you are mine. I am yours and you are mine.
(They hug and caress each other)
FATHER: (quietly from the side) Love is strong as death, strong as death,
jealousy fierce and unyielding as the grave,
its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.
MOTHER: What are you babbling on about?
FATHER: Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can… mighty floods… drown it out…
MOTHER: Don’t just keep saying those same old words, same old words,
again and again.
It is the time to put our thoughts into action now!
Let’s get to work right now!
Come here, Adam and Eva!
Let’s go together to gather up all the people, all creation.
The great celebration is coming, full of freedom and full of joy.
(She brings forth a bow with a Cupid brand symbol on it)
Let us shoot with these age-old weapons of love.
Love wounds, love reveals, love heals, yes, only love!
(She gives weapons to Eva, Adam, and the Father)
Love wounds, love reveals, love heals, yes, only love!
EVA: Love wounds, love reveals, only love!
ADAM: Love wounds, only love!
FATHER: Only love! (They start moving around with their bows)
(In the forest, they encounter people around a bonfire in a pathetic camp by the side of a lake. They wound them with their weapons)
FATHER: Morten, let’s leave the cold, frozen waters of death!
MOTHER: Helena, hell and chaos have been defeated now!
EVA: Leo, here’s a candle stub to light your star!
ADAM: Cindy, love wounds, love reveals, only love!
FATHER and LEVI: Levi, my best friend, my best friend, my best friend…
MOTHER: Love wounds, love reveals, love heals, yes, only love!
EVA: Love wounds, love reveals, only love!
ADAM: Love wounds, only love!
(The servants also get weapons, and they all continue the journey together. They arrive in a dark wilderness, where there are many sick, dying, and tired people…)
MOTHER: In the deep, sunken down, people of darkness and death,
let’s go together. The great celebration is coming, full of freedom and full of joy.
(They shoot them with the arrows of love)
MOTHER, FATHER, EVA, ADAM, CINDY, HELENA, LEO, LEVI, and MORTEN:
Love wounds, love reveals, love heals, yes, only love!
(Suddenly wild animals come onstage)
They are wild, they are hungry!
ADAM: Behemoth!
MOTHER: Levi! Shoot to hit its heart!
(Levi shoots the Behemoth, the wild beasts calm down, all of creation is free! The large and small animals come forward without fear)
EVA: Wild deer.
ADAM: Grasshopper.
EVA: Dragonfly.
ADAM: Owl.
EVA: Vulture.
ADAM: Lizard.
MOTHER, FATHER, CINDY, HELENA, LEO, LEVI, MORTEN, and CHOIR:
Stag with a great crown! Stag with a great crown!
(Flowers, leaves on the trees, light…)
EVA, MOTHER, CINDY, and HELENA: Look! The winter’s past and gone.
Flowers bursting into bloom
Now the time has come to sing!
ADAM, FATHER, LEO, LEVI, and MORTEN: Now the time has come to sing!
MOTHER, FATHER, EVA, ADAM, CINDY, HELENA, LEO, LEVI, and MORTEN:
Love wounds, love reveals, love heals, yes, only love!
ALL SOLOISTS and CHOIR: Love’s sharp arrow finds its target –
ev’ry tongue shall join in praise!
Freedom’s power takes us captive –
ev’ry tongue shall join in praise!
FATHER: Dearest friends! We’re leaving now to rebuild our family home,
MOTHER: preparing the feast.
The great celebration is coming, full of freedom and full of joy!
ADAM:
Please wait here with Eva for a little while.
I will bring you
all to live in our family home.
(The Father, the Mother, Adam, and the servants leave. The stage dims)
(The people and Eva are left to wait where they are. At first they are silent, but they gradually become restless and begin to move around and make noise)
(The whole choir and the helpers dress in darkness for the celebration, as they were dressed in Act I. When Scene 7 begins, the people are waiting on the side of the stage, out of view)
SCENE 7
(The banquet hall of the great house is dim, awaiting the start of the celebration. From offstage comes the sound of a few light steps and someone clearing their throat)
FATHER: (humming brightly) Hm, Hm, hm. Hm, hm, hm…
ADAM: (arrives onstage, hearing the Father’s humming, preparing the banquet hall for the celebration, answers the Father’s humming) Hm, hm, hm. Hm, hm, hm…
FATHER: (arrives onstage, answers Adam’s humming)
FATHER, ADAM: (playing joyfully together) Hm, hm, hm. Hm, hm, hm…
(They give the signal to the servants to come forward) Now, now, now! Lights on! Lights on! Lights on! (The servants turn the lights on)
MOTHER: (comes onstage when she sees the lights, finishes arranging the flowers, etc.) Hm, hm, hm. Hm, hm, hm...
MOTHER, FATHER, ADAM: (walk around the hall in joyful anticipation: “Soon the celebration will begin!”) Hm, hm, hm. Hm, hm, hm...
CINDY and HELENA: Ah.
FATHER, MOTHER, ADAM, and SERVANTS: (preparing the banquet hall for the celebration) Yes, yes, yes! Ready! Ready! Ready!
(At Adam’s signal, the servants bring the party guests into the banquet hall. Adam brings Eva into the banquet hall)
FATHER: Dearest friends! Welcome everyone! Welcome to our new home!
(He raises his glass) My wife, my life!
My dear son, Adam! And his sweet wife, Eva!
Our faithful servants! (The people raise their glasses! The hosts greet people, both old friends and new, as well as surprise guests…)
CHOIR: All our love! All our love! All our love!
Rejoice now! Rejoice now! Rejoice now!
(Joyful dancing and singing)
EVERYONE: Ah, ah, ah…
(A small game starts)
CHOIR and CHILDREN’S CHOIR: Come and meet my very best friend, Adam the joyful! Adam dearest! King of the beasts, Adam the joyful! Adam dearest!
SOLOISTS: Adam, Adam, Adam, Adam!
WOMEN and CHILDREN: Look and see how strong, how powerful his muscles are!
EVERYONE: Backbone harder than iron!
CHOIR and CHILDREN’S CHOIR: Come and meet my very best friend, Eva the lovely! Eva darling! Queen of the beasts, Eva the lovely! Eva darling!
SOLOISTS: Eva, Eva, Eva, Eva!
MEN: Look and see how beautiful her body is!
EVERYONE: Golden crown in her soft hair!
EVERYONE, also ADAM and EVA: Dah, dah, dah! Dah, dah, dah…
(Everyone gradually moves to the garden… The scene change has happened gradually)
In the Garden of Light
EVA and ADAM: Now we’ve come at last to the vineyard, to the side of the streams, to the riverbanks, to the springs.
Milk and honey, wine and oil!
ADAM: Juicy figs, saffron and cinnamon,
EVA: figs and apples,
ADAM, EVA: myrrh and balsam.
ADAM: Rise up, my beloved, my fair one, and come with me now.
Look! The winter is past, the rains are now over and gone.
Flowers bursting into bloom, now the time has come to sing,
doves are cooing in the trees, vines are giving forth their fragrance.
ADAM, EVA: I rest peacefully at your side and sink into love, sink into love.
EVA: Ah, ah, ah…
EVA and ADAM: Make my peace so deep that for now and always
it could be the source of our love.
CINDY, HELENA, LEVI, and MORTEN: Hatred is gone now.
CINDY, HELENA, LEO, LEVI, and MORTEN: Time to reconcile.
MOTHER, FATHER, EVA, ADAM, CINDY, HELENA, LEO, LEVI, and MORTEN:
Love wounds, love reveals, love heals, yes, only love!
EVERYONE: Love’s sharp arrow finds its target –
ev’ry tongue shall join in praise!
Freedom’s power takes us captive –
ev’ry tongue shall join in praise!
FATHER: (to the Mother) You’re the north wind, north wind.
You’re the south wind, south wind.
MOTHER: (to the Father) You lead the dance of death, the dance of death.
You lead the celebration of life.
FATHER and MOTHER: You are love. You are love.
(At the Father’s signal, Levi begins shooting off wonderful fireworks.)
Final Dance
(Everyone
together in a Reneissance dance.)
EVERYONE: (playing, humming) Hm, hm, hm…
CHOIR: Love is strong as death, strong as death,
jealousy fierce and unyielding as the grave,
its flashes are flashes of fire, of fire,
the very flame of the Lord.
ADAM and EVA, FATHER and MOTHER: I am yours and you are mine.
SERVANTS and CHILDREN’S CHOIR: I am yours and you are mine.
CHOIR: Love is strong as death, strong as death,
jealousy fierce and unyielding as the grave,
EVERYONE: its flashes are flashes of fire, of fire,
the very flame of the Lord.
(playing, humming) Hm, hm, hm…
(The curtain slowly closes, the dance continues…)
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