Domy Reiter-Soffer

“What a pity that the James Joyce Centenary symposium ended in Dublin Last week and most of the delegates did not have the opportunity to see the premiere of Domy Reiter-Soffer's Ballet “Pomes Penyeach” which explores the multi-faceted work of James Joyces.
The Irish National Ballet programme which opened in the Abbey Theatre Dublin , Last night is a montage of Ballet interpretations against a background of Joyce's poetry spoken by John Cavanagh. It plumbs the dark depth's of Joyce's spirit and evokes memories of his life and the illness of his daughter, Lucia, and his own battle against a world of blindness as well as other stages of his life.
It is indeed fitting that the work was included for the Joyce centenary year, and it was so well excuted by the corps of the company that one can only hope that it will be seen at some later stage by wider international audiences. The work abounds with audience appeal and it would be unthinkable that it did not have the ultimate exposure it deserves. Poems Like ‘my Dove My Beautiful one”, “silently she's combing her hair”, “In the dark pinewood”, “On the beach of Fontana” and “This heart that flutters near my heart are portrayed with utmost expression. But for me “A flower given to my Daughter” was out standing and moving”. Irish national ballet had succeeded to present one of the most unique and Dramatic in James Joyce”.
(Rose Costello- The Irish Times).

“There was a splendid sense of occasion at the Abbey Theatre on the first night of the Irish National Ballet company season in Dublin . The highlight of the evening is, of course, artistic Adviser Domy Reiter-Soffer's “Pomes Penyeach” which is based on the poetry written in the Paris of Ravel, Sattie and Debussy. It also throws light on the lesser-known aspects of James Joyce's work. Here the combination of music and speech and sound catches the varying moods from the lyrical to the poignant of the piece to great effect. John Kavanagh's impressive dark, sonorous voice lends weight to the poetry. It is a worthy and inspired tribute to Joyce, further enriched by the choreography and the dancing of the company, the Irish National Ballet has a winner”.
(Gus Smith- Sunday Independent).

“The Ballets of Domy Reiter-Soffer are painted with broad brush strokes of great theatricality. The poetry of James Joyce provided a backdrop and ideal source material for these strengths but also brought out a poignant and moving subtlety in the Irish National Ballet company's production of “Pomes Penyeach”.
The Ballet Makes a rewarding Contribution to the Joyce centenary celebration; for many the good wine being served until last.
The basic source of the ballet is 19 of Joyce's poems and the result is a warm and compelling fusion of the poetry-so superbly spoken by John Kavanagh to the music of Satie, Ravel, Franck, Debussy and Bach which proved to be a blessing and counter-points to the many wonderful things in the ballet.
The Vocal, musical and choreographic synthesis is dramatically achieved in “Silently she is combing her hair”, “A flower given to my daughter” and in the raw physical imaginary of “I hear an army charging upon the land”.
The starkness of “A memory of the players in a mirror at midnight” was vividly arresting “as sour as cat's breath” and the choreography was stunning.
The marvelous Kathleen smith danced “who goes amid the green wood?” with lovely lyrical tenderness and choreographical inventiveness that was rich in humor, and Carol Bryans was superb in “My dove my beautiful one” and many others that stands as a worthy centenary tribute to a great poet, and the best thing I have seen for a long time. The tortured anguish of the closing in a “prayer” achieved a marvelous dramatic effect and provided the company with opportunity, which they fully exploited. Inevitably Pomes penyeach dominated the programme, although there was much else besides but seemed like a Chinese takeaway in comparison with the main course.
( Graham Sennett- Evening Press).

“The Irish National Ballet presented “Pomes penyeach” at the Abbey Theatre Dublin based on the poetry of James Joyce spoken by John Kavanagh and with the music of Franck, Debussy, Satie, Ravel and Bach. This ballet is a world premiere created especially for Joyce's centenary.
The work is beautiful, harrowing, but above all compulsive and thought provoking, and it epitomizes a lesser-known Joyce's in all his moods. Particularly moving is Kathleen Smith's interpretation of “on the beach at Fontana ” and Joyce's confusion over his daughter's insanity is expressed through the madness of clowns. Set against a black drop, the ballet, stripped to its essentials, starts slowly and builds up to a continuing flow of dance. Its changing moods reflecting an effective collage, which taps the full potential of Joyce's poetry and Domy Reiter-Soffer's choreographic genius, penchant for purging emotionalism. It is truly unforgettable evening of sheer theatre that will stick in ones mind for a long time.
(Patricia O'Reilly- The Sunday Tribune).