A Review Of Botanica
Lindsay Chandler lkc5074@psu.edu; INART 005 Section 3
Botanica Review
A single rose emerged from the darkness. It got closer and bigger, and before long, its huge white petals were blinding the audience. This is how Botanica began and ended at the Eisenhower Auditorium on September 12, 2013. Some may have perceived this symbol as a bit bizarre—trippy even. To a keen observer, though, this symbol would’ve made perfect sense amidst all the confusion of the performance, as its presence at the beginning and end of the show represented a full cycle of the seasons. Without this symbol, the performance would’ve been an utter, confusing disaster. Because of the rose’s presence, though, the audience watching Botanica could understand and appreciate choreographer Moses Pendleton’s unique interpretation of the changes in nature throughout the year. These beautiful and unusual seasonal representations, and the elements that comprised them, are what ultimately contributed to the great success of Botanica.
Moses Pendleton’s clever use of props contributed most to his unique seasonal representations. The audience was first drawn into a warm and relaxing scene and was soothed by the pleasant sounds of crashing waves. The realness of scene was unbelievable. The next character to swirl onto the stage was a palm tree, waving its leaves to the tune of the ocean breeze. The audience became enthralled by the peaceful island and such a soothing representation of summer. Members of the audience would have had to pinch themselves to realize they were still sitting in the dark, plain Eisenhower Auditorium. When one removed his/herself from the summer scene, he/she quickly realized that the props and scenery were nothing more than a projected image of a beach and a few pieces of light blue fabric fluttering in the wind, representing the ocean’s waves. If the audience was expecting a performance filled with ornate scenery and decor, they would have certainly not been impressed by Botanica.
Botanica Review
A single rose emerged from the darkness. It got closer and bigger, and before long, its huge white petals were blinding the audience. This is how Botanica began and ended at the Eisenhower Auditorium on September 12, 2013. Some may have perceived this symbol as a bit bizarre—trippy even. To a keen observer, though, this symbol would’ve made perfect sense amidst all the confusion of the performance, as its presence at the beginning and end of the show represented a full cycle of the seasons. Without this symbol, the performance would’ve been an utter, confusing disaster. Because of the rose’s presence, though, the audience watching Botanica could understand and appreciate choreographer Moses Pendleton’s unique interpretation of the changes in nature throughout the year. These beautiful and unusual seasonal representations, and the elements that comprised them, are what ultimately contributed to the great success of Botanica.
Moses Pendleton’s clever use of props contributed most to his unique seasonal representations. The audience was first drawn into a warm and relaxing scene and was soothed by the pleasant sounds of crashing waves. The realness of scene was unbelievable. The next character to swirl onto the stage was a palm tree, waving its leaves to the tune of the ocean breeze. The audience became enthralled by the peaceful island and such a soothing representation of summer. Members of the audience would have had to pinch themselves to realize they were still sitting in the dark, plain Eisenhower Auditorium. When one removed his/herself from the summer scene, he/she quickly realized that the props and scenery were nothing more than a projected image of a beach and a few pieces of light blue fabric fluttering in the wind, representing the ocean’s waves. If the audience was expecting a performance filled with ornate scenery and decor, they would have certainly not been impressed by Botanica.