There has been but one occasion when I have witnessed, and been part of, audience applause for a live scene change on stage.
The occasion was the stage production at the Nico Malan Theatre in Cape Town, South Africa, of ‘South Pacific’ the musical by Richard Rogers & Oscar Hammerstein. We had watched a radical change of scene which took place in full view, right before our eyes. And it was magical. So we – as an audience – showed our admiration and appreciation by, and through our applause. I hope the stage hands and technicians got the point.
There were other moments in that production where applause was merited – and applause generated. The dance routines, the music, the song, the scenery , the setting, the story. A story of romance. Of yearning. Great stuff! : the stuff of life – the stuff of Relationships.
One of the songs from that show is sung by the male chorus, and one needs make allowance for the language used, the context in which those words are set, with related Americanisms – where the men sing ‘There is nothing like a dame’. In today’s world there will be those parts of 21st century society who – understandably – are unlikely to accept women being referred to in this way. Unless you are meaning, say, Judy Dench, who really IS a Dame. (and deservedly so). But back to that male chorus of US WWII sailors, isolated in the Pacific war-zone, who have an abundance sea, sand and sunshine, but in spite of all they have they feel deprived, so give vent to their feelings towards the feminine form,
There is nothin’ like a dame
Nothin’ in the world
There is nothin’ you can name
That is anythin’ like a dame.
There are no books like a dame
And nothin’ looks like a dame
There are no drinks like a dame
And nothin’ thinks like a dame
Nothin’ acts like a dame
Or attracts like a dame
1958 movie South Pacific by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein
South Pacific is a musical composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan.
Hey ho! Who can argue with these sentiments?
The French actor Maurice Chevalier was of the same mind, but put differently in his song –
‘Thank heaven for little girls
for little girls grow bigger everyday
Maurice Chevalier in the movie ‘Gigi’
So – what brought on all this movie memorabilia?
Well – this time of year there is focus upon Woman – International World Woman’s Day, preceded by Women’s World Day of Prayer, although that observance has been opened to the wider family group. Daily there is reference throughout the year, to woman’s rights, and status, and equality and how far short the latter still falls behind that of men. Gender imbalance within pay scales, and career opportunities.
Violence towards women, domestic horror stories, that are not just stories, are almost daily news-fare. At the other end of the Richter scale, If anything makes my flesh crawl, it is reading of FGM, especially when it takes place here in the UK. Barbaric barely describes this practice.
Although violent incidents of this kind are comparatively few against women, the absence of such incidents does not mean that women are being treated as they should be treated, and deserve to be treated. For me to say ‘I do not beat my wife’ is the negative, that cries out for the positive statement. I do not wish to be remembered for what I did not do – but rather for what I did do. Do I treat her and regard her as I ought? The answer to that question will supply the positive, balancing out that negative.
This larger-than-life figure is to be found on top of an ornate gateway in Prague. I know nothing of its history, or of its meaning, or why it is given such a hi-profile position.
But whatever the reason, it sure does not meet with my approval : not that my approval means anything.
Matthew Henry, a theologian, made this observation based upon the Genesis account of the creation story, that
“The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam;
not made out of his head to rule over him,
nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him,
but out of his side to be equal with him,
under his arm to be protected,
and near his heart to be beloved.”
(Matthew Henry 1662-1714)
Whatever may be your views of the Genesis account of Creation, Henry’s sentiments have wide acceptance, surely?
And this is only the start of the Biblical standard – there is plenty more which follows on in support of and praise for Woman.
Go take a look!
Perceptions & Pictures 