"Good Night & Farewell, My Love" was created for the Delattre Dance Company in 2015.
Synopsis:
Creating a Peaceful Homecoming: A Woman’s Guide:
1. Have dinner ready: Plan ahead, even the night before, so that a delicious meal is prepared on time for him.
2. Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest and refresh before he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair, and ensure you look your best.
3. Clear away the clutter: Just before he arrives, make one last trip through the main areas of the house, running a dust cloth over the tables.
4. Prepare the children: Spend a few minutes washing the children’s hands and faces. They are little treasures, and he will appreciate seeing them looking their best.
5. Minimize the noise: At the time of his arrival, turn off the washer, dryer, dishwasher, and vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet, and greet him with a warm smile to show your happiness at seeing him.
6. Things to avoid: Don’t greet him with problems or complaints, and try to remain calm if he is late for dinner.
7. Make him comfortable: Encourage him to lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him, arrange his pillow, and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a soft, soothing voice to help him relax.
8. Listen to him: While you may have many things to share, the moment he arrives is not the right time. Allow him to talk first.
9. Make the evening his: Avoid complaining if he doesn’t take you out to dinner or to other forms of entertainment. Instead, seek to understand his world of stress and pressure and his need to unwind at home.
10. The main goals: Strive to be perfect in his eyes; focus on him rather than on pin-up girls or other distractions. Create a home that serves as a sanctuary of peace and order where your husband can truly relax.
"Good Night & Farewell, My Love" not only transports us back in time but also offers a controversial and humorous perspective on married life in the 1940s and 50s, reflecting the social behaviors of that era through a contemporary lens.
Premier - 08.01.2015 at Minzer KammerSpiel in Mainz/Germany for Delattre Dance Company
Choreography and Concept - Miguel Esteves & Maki Nakao
Music - Ella Fitzgerald; Robbie Williams; German TV commercials from the 40s and 50s
Light - Miguel Esteves & Maki Nakao
Costumes - Miguel Esteves & Maki Nakao
Dancers - Tina Chatzistavrou; Leonidas Thiel; Tal Eitan; Maeva Lassere; Alexandre Démont.
