Act II Scene II — Her Parents' Difficult Decision (narration + song)

ABOUT THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM

The Forgotten Kingdom renders an interwar letter from a mother to her daughter, in the form of a book of memory so that — years later, once grown — the daughter would remember how it felt to live in her parents’ vibrant, multiethnic Mediterranean world, before its unraveling. As the people, places and events that made a home come vividly alive, the daughter — and audiences with her — plunges into the days before wars splintered the Ottoman Empire into ethnic nation-states.

The multimedia tale is woven with dreamlike theatrically projected sand animation, narration blending memoir and poetry, and a riveting musical score reframing Ottoman Jewish women’s song.

Breathtaking sand images are created, morphed, and obliterated to form intensely emotional chronicles. The cinematographic score draws on the bittersweet rawness of Tango, the rhythmic fire of Arabic percussion, and gorgeous vocal harmonies layered on Western classical music’s harmonic roots. Sand and music intertwine with a “masterfully narrated tale” (Welland Port Coburn Concert Association), bound together with an evocative lighting and scenic design.

In a multimedia adventure that “explodes with artistry, refinement, and excitement,” (Hebrew Union College, OH), The Forgotten Kingdom moves audiences with questions with which we still grapple today.

THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM

Directed and produced by: Guy Mendilow

Story: Guy Mendilow

Score: Guy Mendilow with additional composition by Tomoko Omura, Chris Baum & Andy Bergman

Script: Guy Mendilow & Alison James

Sand Animation: Kseniya Simonova

Theatrical Projection Design: Seághan McKay

Scenic Design: Seághan McKay

Lighting Design: Karen Perlow

Premiering Partner: BabsonARTS, Babson College, Wellesley, MA

This scene was filmed in a pre-premiere staged shoot

Video Production: DeSant Productions

Audio Recording: Ariel Bernstein

Mixing and Mastering: Dan Cardinal, Dimension Sound Studios, Jamaica Plain, MA

Filmed at the Stockbridge Theatre, Derry NH (production partner)

Production Staff

Production & Stage Management: Davison Scandrett

Projection Operation: Bill O'Donnell

Onstage artists:

Chris Baum, Violin

Andy Bergman, Clarinet, Whistle

Keita Ogawa, Percussion

Guy Mendilow, Narration; Voice, Guitar

Mike Rivard, Bass, Sintir

Sofía Tosello, Voice

Learn more: https://www.guymendilowensemble.com/tfk-produ

Scene guide & historical notes: https://bit.ly/3mBUxDR

Created with support from:

The National Endowment for the Arts

The Boston Foundation

Sparkplug Foundation

City of Boston

Boston Cultural Council

Our production partner, the Stockbridge Theatre

Guy Mendilow Ensemble is grateful to BabsonARTS and the community of Babson College for their support of the development of this work. The Forgotten Kingdom premiered at Babson College on March 23, 2023