paria.txt --- http://www.nightnews.net/fringe2007.htm#paria Title: Paria 4 gold bats http://www.myspace.com/bigpictureperformance 17 08 07 - Having attended the performance workshop and seen the related production of 'Six Women Standing in Front of a White Wall,' it was impressed upon me by the performers to also see the Butoh inspired 'Paria.' The audience are directed to read the narrative on the walls and also to take off their shoes before taking their seats for the performance. How you then relate the show to the narrative and your experience of the action is tricky, as its a show told mostly in Butoh style movement which though beautiful in itself and a pleasure to witness, contains very few words. At its heart is a tragic love story pitting the lovers against the ignorance of the mob and contrasting Paria's literal light against the prevailing darkness. The story unfolds in the dark, is told in the dark and ends in the dark but on a hopeful note. It has some visceral moments which you should catch for yourselves and there is no doubting the sincerity, talent and skill of Rowan Michael Davie and Emma Schofield in this production. I applaud the 'struggle of existence' behind this show and if there are any 'defiantly beating hearts' out there, these performers will count among them, for this positive message of love, hope and the need for tolerance. By John Vassallo