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‘The First Branch of the Mabinogion: The Story of Pwyll and Rhiannon,’ Leads the Storytelling Institute Fall Series on Sept. 17
If you think Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac invented the character of “Rhiannon” for their
1976 hit song, South Mountain Community College invites you to come hear the REAL story....
A Welsh myth, “The First Branch of the Mabinogion: The Story of Pwyll and Rhiannon,” will lead the fourth annual Myth Informed Series of South Mountain Community College on Sept. 17 (Monday). It features otherworldly kings and brides.
In all, SMCC Storytelling Institute Faculty Member Liz Warren will tell three myths from the Welsh tradition this fall. Additional dates are Oct. 15 and Nov. 5.
The free, Monday performances begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Studio Theatre of the college, 7050 S. 24th St. Late-comers will not be seated.
The performances will focus on “The Mabinogion,” from Welsh mythology. “The Mabinogion” is an assembly of Welsh stories that were taken from two books written in the Middle Ages. The books are widely regarded to be much older. Warren said that all the stories in the Mabinogion explore the themes of friendship, marriage, and feuds. “The myths show how society can benefit from wise friendships and marriages as well as the destructive power of false marriages and feuds,” she noted.
In the first myth (Sept. 17), Pwyll exchanges places with the lord of the otherworld for one year, thus establishing his connection to that realm. Pwyll gains an otherworldly bride, Rhiannon, who is falsely blamed for the abduction and presumed death of their infant son. For her penance, she is forced to carry visitors on her back from the gate to the court as if she were a horse.
On Oct. 15, Warren will tell “The Fourth Branch of the Mabinogion: Math’s Rebellious Nephews and the Maid of Flowers.”
In this tale, according to Warren, the great wizard-king Math lives under a destiny requiring that he must have his feet in the lap of a virgin, unless he is at war. He has two nephews whose exploits result in Math requiring a new foot-holder. Her arrival sets events in motion that will provide one of the nephews, Gwydion, with a nephew of his own. This nephew received a destiny from his mother that he would never have a wife from the race of men. His uncles, two of the greatest wizards who ever lived, thwart this destiny by creating a bride for him made from flowers.
On Nov. 5, the storyteller will perform “Stories from the Mabinogion: Culwch and Olwen and The Oldest Animals.” Warren said of the myth: Culwch’s stepmother places a destiny upon him that he will only ever marry Olwen, daughter of the chief giant, Ysbaddaden. His search for her, and then his quest for all the wedding goods required by her father, involves King Arthur and his knights, the advice of the oldest animals, and the timely intervention of the hidden child of light.
For more information, call 602.243.8022. For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, go to: http://finearts.southmountaincc.edu.
For information about upcoming performances at SMCC, call the Performing Arts Hotline: 602.243.8353.