René Daumal’s Prose Poem, “Holy War” in Performance December 6, 2008

The voice of a mercurial figure in twentieth century avant-garde French literature, René Daumal will be heard on the stage of the George Ignatieff Theatre on the evening of December 6. In the fall of 1940, as Nazi armies were entering France, and literary journals were closing down or becoming compromised, Daumal was driven to create a prose poem, “Holy War”, evoking the inner struggle towards consciousness and conscience. This is the unseen warfare that many traditions regard as the surest basis for peace.

2008 is the birth centenary of Daumal, essayist, editor, poet and novelist - a student of philosophy and Sanskrit, avid mountain climber and an uncompromising seeker of truth.

This first Canadian performance is a dramatization of Daumal’s prose poem, brought by a cast from New York. It is recited by the actress Priscilla Smith, with dance by Dolphi Wertenbaker, and music by Chris Wertenbaker (oud) and Jeff Greene (medieval strings). Roger Lipsey - author, editor and Daumal scholar - will introduce the performance and afterwards invite a discussion amongst the audience and the cast.

The performance will be at 7:30 pm, Saturday, December 6 at the George Ignatieff Theatre, Trinity College, 16 Devonshire Place. With the discussion afterwards, it lasts about an hour and a half.

For more information and to purchase tickets (general admission $25, students $20) call (416) 469-2847.