This televised ballet, an interpretation of Rembrandt’s painting, uses a clinical dissection to trigger a man’s life memories.
A ballet from the Nederlands Dans Theater, this piece is an abstract and psychological drama told through movement. The Man (Jaap Flier) is laid out on a table, subject to the dispassionate examination of The Doctor (Ger Thomas). As the procedure unfolds, it triggers a series of dreamlike flashbacks. Figures from his past, including His Mother (Willy De La Bije) and His Wife (Alexandra Radius), appear to re-enact pivotal moments from his life. The action is framed by a spoken commentary read by Kenneth Farrington, which guides the audience through the man’s fragmented recollections.
This ambitious television treatment brought a landmark of modern dance to a broadcast audience. Glen Tetley’s choreography uses the framework of Rembrandt’s painting to construct an expressionistic inquiry into a man’s life. A co-production with the Dutch broadcaster N.C.R.V. Hilversum, the programme is distinguished by its blend of stage performance and specially shot film sequences, a technique refined by producer and director Margaret Dale. It is a distinct televisual interpretation rather than a simple theatrical recording; the camera is used to enter the psychological space of the protagonist. The production’s emotionally charged atmosphere is intensified by Marcel Landowsky’s jarring electronic score.
Broadcast: BBC Two, 1 Episode, 13 April 1969
Choreography by: Glen Tetley
Music by: Marcel Landowsky
Producer: Margaret Dale
Director (Film Sequences): Margaret Dale
Director (Stage): Joes Odufré
Main Cast: Jaap Flier (The Man), Willy De La Bije (His Mother), Alexandra Radius (His Wife), Ger Thomas (The Doctor), Hans Knill (His Assistant), Kenneth Farrington (Commentary)
