Weep, Cry and Tangle

About the décor: ‘It was for sentimental reasons that I asked Bart Stuyf to design a décor. For I consider his brother Koert Stuyf as my master. It has always been very clear to me that both Koert and Bart have a very interesting theatrical vision. Their ideas about décor in particular have always strongly appealed to me.’

About the music: ‘I have always been interested in classical music. For this choreography I chose two string quartets (nr. 3 and 13) by Dmitri Shostakovich. This composer’s music strongly influenced me.’

This work deals with the effect that the demise of powerful regimes has on the man in the street. The impressive, spider-like object that is suspended over the dancers plays an central role. (NRC Handelsblad)

Lust for life and zealous dance dominate, but are now and again rent apart by fits of gloom. De Châtel has taken a very esthetical approach, with noticeably more emphasis on elegant movements than otherwise. (de Volkskrant)

Through the colour choice of costume designer Rien Bekkers I had constant associations with the blood circulating through the beating heart of an impassioned dancer (Cathy Dekker in red) amidst three couples in pink, blue and pastel tints. Weep, Cry and Tangle seems to be the story of a woman who is on her own, searching and reaching out for something to hold on to, trying to repress the restlessness and the contortions of her mind (…) Neither the woman in red, nor the dancers take any notice of the Stuyf insect. Their dance takes precedence and continues unabated. De Châtel could not have made a more fitting self-portrait. (Trouw)

premiere 25 January 1992, Stadsschouwburg, Amsterdam
choreography Krisztina de Châtel
dance Pieter-Paul Blok, Ann Van den Broek, Cathy Dekker, Gilles den Hartog, Michael Strecker, Paula Vasconcelos, Paul Waarts
music Dimitri Sjostakovitsj – Stringquartet nr. 3 in F, opus 73 and Stringquartet nr. 13 in bes, opus 138
stagedesign Bart Stuyf, Martin Mulder
light Bart Stuyf, Carlus Koopman
costumes Rien Bekkers
photography Ben van Duin