São Paulo — One of the world’s most-read books, The Prophet by Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran was adapted into a theater play for the first time in Brazil. The philosophical musical will premiere at Teatro Bravos in São Paulo on October 8 and run until October 15, on Saturdays and Sundays at 8 pm. Tickets are on sale on Sympla. The book by Gibran turns 100 next year and has been translated into more than 100 languages.
The prophet Al Mustafa has lived in the city of Orphalese for 12 years and is about to board a ship which will carry him home. He is stopped by a group of people, with whom he discusses topics such as life and the human condition.
Gibran’s tale of the turbulent, uncertain journey of the man through life is adapted by Lúcia Helena Galvão, starred by Sami Bordokan, featuring a special guest appearance by William Bordokan. The play is directed by Luiz Antônio Rocha (nominated for the Shell Award 2019 for Paulo Freire’s play O Andarailho da Utopia), light design by Ricardo Fujii, and set and costumes by Uruguayan visual artist Eduardo Albini. Sami and Willian Bordokan are musical directors.
The book is divided into chapters dealing with love, marriage, children, giving, eating and drinking, work, joy and sorrow, houses, clothes, buying and selling, crime and punishment, laws, freedom, reason and passion, pain, self-knowledge, teaching, friendship, talking, time, good and evil, prayer, pleasure, beauty, religion, and death.
In the lead role, Lebanese musician and singer Sami Bordokan tells the story with his lute. Bordokan is a researcher on Arabic classical and folk music and reinterprets traditional themes. His lute playing and singing style is unique, bringing together different influences such as Arabic classical musical, Byzantine chant, Sufism, flamenco, and Brazilian popular music.
Thus, The Prophet presents a variety of sounds and rhythms, using ancient music instruments such as lute, nay flute, rabab and darbuka, played by William Bordokan, as well as the Eastern chant sang by the actor himself.
For the director, the play is a story of rare beauty. “The strength of his parables, the poetic musicality, the depth of his concepts is a balm these days. Love is the common thread and makes us rediscover the role of the heart,” director Luiz Antônio Rocha was quoted as saying in a statement.
“The Prophet is based on the author’s experiences as an immigrant and serves as inspiration for anyone who feels lost or adrift. The life and thinking of Khalil Gibran intertwine with our lives and are a major part of who we are,” the play’s author Lúcia Helena Galvão was quoted as saying in a statement.
The premiere in São Paulo takes place on October 8 at 8 pm at Teatro Bravos in Complexo Aché Cultural between Avenida Faria Lima and Avenida Pedroso de Morais.
Quick Facts
Teatro Bravos in Complexo Aché Cultural
Rua Coropé, 88 – Pinheiros
October 8, 9, 15 and 16
Saturdays and Sundays at 8 pm
Genre: Philosophical musical
Tickets: BRL 40-100 (Sympla)
Duration: 80 minuts
Parental guidance: free
Capacity: 611 seats
Opening: 1 before the start of the play.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
