Research Catalog

Title

Pamina Devi [videorecording] : a Cambodian magic flute [with sub-titles] / choreography, direction, costume design, lyrics & traditional music arrangements by Sophiline Cheam Shapiro ; performed by Khmer Arts Ensemble ; produced by Khmer Arts Academy ; presented by The Joyce Theater.

Publication

c2008.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Shapiro, Sophiline Cheam
• Shapiro, Sophiline Cheam.
• Doshi, Marcus
• Chenda, Pumtheara
• Bonich, Kong
• Sathya, Sam
• Socheata, Chao
• Phirom, Sao
• Sokhan, Sok
• Sovanndy, Sot
• Sothavy, Khut
• Robison, Mark (Cameraman)
• Crescent, James
• Ciarrocchi, Maya
• Character Generators/Video.
• Khmer Arts Ensemble.
• Khmer Arts Academy.
• Joyce Theater (New York, N.Y.)

Description

1 videodisc (NTSC) (97 min.) : sd., col.; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

• Act I: In the Realm of the Night, Sayon Reachny and her seney (devotees) dance happily with her daughter, Pamina Devi. They exit, leaving Pamina Devi dancing alone when the lecherous Thornea abducts her. Sayon Reachny bitterly laments the loss of her daughter. A krut (garuda bird) enters, chasing Preah Chhapoun. Before it can kill him, Sayon Reachny's devotees rescue him. Sayon Reachny tells Preah Chhapoun that she was happy to save him, but is sad that she was unable to save her own daughter. He promises to bring Pamina Devi home. Sayon Reachny gives him a portrait of Pamina Devi and the flute of compassion for protection. He falls in love with the portrait. Along the way to the Realm of the Sun, Preah Chhapoun meets the bird catcher Noreak, who laments that he has no soul mate. Preah Chhapoun invites him to join his journey, saying they'll both meet their true loves.
• Act II: In the Realm of the Sun, Preah Arun Tipadey rules with logic and order. Thornea brings Pamina Devi before her father. Preah Arun Tipadey explains that he had her abducted for her own good and to protect her from her mother's feminine influence. He asks Thornea to guard her. Thornea tries to seduce Pamina Devi. When rebuffed, he imprisons her with magic. Preah Chhapoun plays his flute and entrances the guards. Noreak enters and frees Pamina Devi. He then introduces her to Preah Chhapoun and they fall in love. Before they can flee, they are caught and brought before Preah Arun Tipadey. The King decides that the prince is worthy of his daughter. But in order to marry her, he must first undergo an initiation of silence. The guards take Preah Chhapoun and Noreak away. Sayon Reachny visits Pamina Devi in the night and instructs her to kill her father. Pamina Devi refuses. Pamina Devi runs to Preah Chhapoun for help, but he is too engaged in his initiation ritual to pay attention. She decides to leave him, transforming her mother's dagger from a symbol of betrayal into a symbol of her own strength. Realizing his error, Preah Chhapoun follows after Pamina Devi. Sayon Reachny and her devotees catch the two lovers and condemn them for failing to follow her orders. Preah Arun Tipadey enters with his devotees. The two armies engage in battle. Frustrated at being caught in other people's conflicts, Noreak strikes the Gong of Consciousness; the battle freezes and dissipates. Noreak, hopeless in his quest for love, frees his prized bird. The bird transforms into Nory, his soul mate. Finally, Pamina Devi and Preah Chhapoun, Noreak and Nory dance in circles. Each couple joins together as one. They zigzag into their future, determined to survive the difficult path of compromise and consideration ahead.

Genre/Form

• Dance.
• Video.

Note

• Includes supertitles. For a version without supertitles, see *MGZIDVD 5-3919.
• The recording of this work was made possible by the cooperation of Khmer Arts Academy, The Joyce Theater, and the Jerome Robbins Archive of the Recorded Moving Image, Dance Division, The New York Public Library.

Credits (note)

• Scenic and lighting designs by Marcus Doshi; executive director, John Shapiro.

Event (note)

• Videotaped in performance at the Joyce Theater, New York on Oct. 13, 2007.

Funding (note)

• This recording is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency.
• The assistance of the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts is gratefully acknowledged.
• The Dance Division gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the Jerome Robbins Foundation.

System Details (note)

• DVD, transferred from DVCam cassettes.

Contents

Act I: In the realm of Sayon Reachny, Queen of the Night (ca. 29 min.) -- Act II: In the realm of Preah Arun Tipadey, King of the Sun (ca. 58 min.).

Call Number

*MGZIDVD 5-3920

OCLC

275175147

Title

Pamina Devi [videorecording] : a Cambodian magic flute [with sub-titles] / choreography, direction, costume design, lyrics & traditional music arrangements by Sophiline Cheam Shapiro ; performed by Khmer Arts Ensemble ; produced by Khmer Arts Academy ; presented by The Joyce Theater.

Imprint

c2008.

Country of Producing Entity

U.S.

System Details

DVD, transferred from DVCam cassettes.

Event

Videotaped in performance at the Joyce Theater, New York on Oct. 13, 2007.

Performer

Performers: Ms. Puntheara Chenda (Pamina Devi, Pamina), Ms. Kong Bonich (Preah Chhapoan, Tamino), Ms. Sam Sathya (Sayon Reachny, Queen of the Night), Ms. Chao Socheata (Preah Arun Tipadey, Sorastro), Ms. Sao Phirom (Noreak, Papageno), Ms. Sik Sokhan (Thornea, Monastatos), Ms. Sot Sovanndy (Krut, Garuda), Ms. Khut Sothavy (Nory, Papagena), Baksei (Birds): Ms. Khut Sothavy, Ms. Mot Pharan, Ms. Um Sreyvan ; Sayon Reachny Seney (Devotees): Ms. Chan Sopheap, Ms. Pum Molyta, Ms. Sam Ratha, Ms. Sin Sotheary ; Preah Arun Tipadey Seney (Devotees): Ms. Lim Chanboramy, Ms. Long Chantheary, Ms. Nong Sophanmay, Ms. Noun Kaza, Ms. Rin Sreyleak, Ms. Sao Somaly, Ms. Sot Sovanndy.

Vocalists: Ms. Cheam Chantopheas, Ms. Chhorn Niboran, Mr. Meas Sambo, Ms. Sim Chonmoly.

Instrumentalists: Mr. Chum Kong (Gong Thom), Mr. Nil Sinoeun (Roneat Ek), Mr. Nol Kol (Sralai Thom), Mr. Ros Sokun (Sampho and Skor Thom), Mr. Sac Sothea (Gong Touch), Mr. Som Vanna (Sralai Touch), Mr. Peng Yom (Dresser).

Credits

Scenic and lighting designs by Marcus Doshi; executive director, John Shapiro.

Funding

This recording is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency.

The assistance of the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts is gratefully acknowledged.

The Dance Division gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the Jerome Robbins Foundation.

Local Note

For the conversation with Sophiline Cheam Shapiro and Toni Shapiro at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, see *MGZIDVD 5-3668.

Added Author

Shapiro, Sophiline Cheam, choreographer.

Shapiro, Sophiline Cheam. Director

Shapiro, Sophiline Cheam. Costume designer

Shapiro, Sophiline Cheam. Arranger

Doshi, Marcus, set designer.

Doshi, Marcus, lighting designer.

Chenda, Pumtheara, dancer.

Bonich, Kong, dancer.

Sathya, Sam, dancer.

Socheata, Chao, dancer.

Phirom, Sao, dancer.

Sokhan, Sok, dancer.

Sovanndy, Sot, dancer.

Sothavy, Khut, dancer.

Robison, Mark (Cameraman)

Crescent, James, camera operator.

Ciarrocchi, Maya, editor of moving image work.

Character Generators/Video.

Khmer Arts Ensemble.

Khmer Arts Academy.

Joyce Theater (New York, N.Y.)

Research Call Number

*MGZIDVD 5-3920