inSight

November 2012

Erte_QueenoftheNight-cr

Griselda Steiner

Lyric From Musical "HYPATIA" 

In Mozart's opera "THE MAGIC FLUTE", that premiered in Vienna in 1791, the Queen of the Night's daughter has been abducted by her father Sarastro, the High Priest of the Temple of Light.  Robbed of the realm of the sun and her child, the Queen is overcome by revenge.

The premise of my musical is that Heroines of 19th Century opera  were  stereotyped by negative notions of womanhood based on men's fear of  great feminine powers. Hypatia leads them on a journey to change their destinies.

My Queen of the Night is the original archetype of the ancient Mother Goddess denigrated by evil patriarchs.

QUEEN OF THE NIGHT'S LAMENT

(The stage depicts a jet-black night with sparkling stars and a full, brilliant moon. The QUEEN OF THE NIGHT lets out a blood-curtailing scream, then emerges from the depth of darkness. )

(Spoken)

MY LAMENT GOES DEEPER THAN AN OPERA PLOT
IT GOES TO THE CORE OUR APOCALYPTIC LOT

WHEN THE GODDESS WAS DESTROYED AND THE CITY STATE BUILT
IT WAS DONE WITH MY BODY, BLOOD, AND MOTHER'S MILK
WHEN WE WOMEN RULED THE PLANET EARTH
WE LIVED ON ITS FRUITS IN PEACE AND
PROTECTED OUR BLOODLINE CHILDREN
WHO TOOK THEIR MOTHERS' NAMES AT BIRTH

(Sung)

THEY MADE ME THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT
GIVE ME BACK MY LIGHT

I AM THE ONE SOURCE OF LIFE
DEEP IN THE SEA BEGUN
MINE BECAME THE NIGHT HOURS
WHEN MEN STOLE MY BELOVED SUN

THEY THREW ME IN DARKNESS
THEY COVERED ME WITH LIES
BUT I WAS ONCE THE RULER
OF THE HEAVEN AND THE SKIES

WITH IRON SWORDS AND WEAPONS
THE DREAD WARRIORS CAME
THEY MADE GODDESSES DEMONS
AND GAVE US EVIL NAMES

BY SO MANY NAMES
I LOST MY FAME
ISIS
GAIA
IXCHEL
CERRIDWEN 
INANNA
HATHOR 
DORGA
 
GONE ARE HALF MY POWERS
MINE ARE THE DARK HOURS

CALLING THE ONE PRINCIPAL TWO
CREATED DUALITY
GOOD AND EVIL GLORIFIED
GOD AND SATAN SOLIDIFIED

I AM THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT
GIVE ME BACK THE LIGHT

WHEN ONE BROTHER KILLED ANOTHER
THEY DEFIED THE MOTHER
FROM THE CREATION OF EVE
AROSE MEN'S BLASPHEMIES

FROM HIS IGNORANCE AND GREED
LUSTING POWER AND SEED
MEN CLAIMED MY SPIRITUAL REALM
NOW THEY'RE OVERWHELMED
BY THE DUNG OF THEIR DECEITS

POISONING PLANTS, ANIMALS, AIR AND SEA
THEY WILL COME BECKONING ME

THEY MADE ME THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT
GIVE ME BACK MY LIGHT

 (Spoken)

WHEN MY DOMINION IS RECLAIMED
IT WILL BE A DAY OF MIRACLES

(THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT recedes into the star-studded night.)

Cover Serigraph – Erte (Romain de Tirtoff)

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©2012 Griselda Steiner
©2012 Publication Scene4 Magazine

gsphoto-crs
Griselda Steiner is a poet, dramatist and free-lance writer living in New York City. A member of the Playwrights and Directors Unit of the Actors Studio from 2007 through 2009, she has written the play MARY M and the MAD PROPHET, the musical HYPATIA and screenplay THE GODDESS IN EXILE. Note:  Griselda is seeking full production of the musical "HYPATIA". If interested contact her at sedna2003@yahoo.com.
For more of her writing and articles, check the Archives

 

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