What is "Night Fires"?

This year's carnival/opera/feast for the eyes, heart and ears is, as always, a walk through darkness into light -- featuring music from many points in the Americas, Spain, Russia, Israel/Palestine and elsewhere. Masked dancers, marvelously costumed actors and skilled musicians pour forth a dazzling cornucopia of paeans to the wild heart of the world.

The story, unfolding in words, song and dance, tells of free-flowing rivers, roads, animals and people: of the darkness brought on by the erection of walls between peoples and between different parts of the natural world itself. The final section celebrates the fierce, deft journeys of faith that bring walls down.

The pageant and meaning of "Night Fires," has been described as "firewood" for the soul - to be stored up by its audience to warm themselves during the long winter nights to come.

"A heartfelt pageant of singing, dancing, storytelling, chanting and visual magic...(with) a mystery to its magic...

"A liturgy of universality (with) an almost sacramental power.

"...afterward, audience members wish they could remember all those marvelous poems and songs and store them up like firewood for cold nights.

"People come as spectators and leave as members of a community."

*Ed Barna, Rutland Herald