Synopsis
N
arraboth praises Salome’s beauty as the page observes the moon and warns of an ominous future. Two soldiers watch Herod as he stares at Salome during dinner and comment on the man in the cistern. He is John the Baptist, known in Hebrew as Jokanaan, a prophet who wandered the desert until he was imprisoned by Herod for slandering his wife Herodias and for fear of his heretical beliefs.
Herod and Herodias come out onto the terrace. The tetrarch slips on Narraboth’s blood and senses a portentous omen. Still entranced by her beauty, Herod offers Salome refreshments, which she curtly refuses. Overhearing Jokanaan’s denunciations, Herodias demands that he be silenced, but Herod refuses, believing he could be a holy man. Five Jews debate that theory. Two Nazarenes tell of the man whom Jokanaan believes to be the Son of God and of the miracles he
has performed, putting more fear into Herod’s mind. Still, he will not silence Jokanaan, to Herodias’ exasperation. Herod asks Salome to dance, but she refuses. He then offers her anything she wants and she agrees, performing a seductive dance to Herodias’ objections. Afterwards, she names her prize – the head of Jokanaan. Herod is mortified and offers everything in his realm rather than kill the supposed prophet, but Salome will not budge. Delighted, Herodias slips the ring of death off the tetrarch’s finger and gives it to the executioner, who performs the grisly task. Offered the head on a golden charger, Salome claims the prize that was denied earlier – the kiss from Jokanaan’s lips. Absolutely revolted, Herod orders his soldiers to crush her to death with their shields. ❚
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Salome enters, disgusted by her stepfather’s lecherous glances, the bickering Jews and the uncouth Romans. She hears the voice of Jokanaan and is intrigued. Though no one is allowed to see him, Salome uses her seductive charm on Narraboth. Jokanaan is brought before her and speaks of Herodias’ incest, for she has married the brother of her first husband, a violation of Jewish canon.
He ignores Salome’s flirtations until he learns she is Herodias’ daughter. Narraboth is horrified by Salome’s blatant advances and kills himself, hoping to allay her abhorrent behavior. The prophet continues to hurl insults at Salome as he repels her desire to kiss his mouth. He returns to the cistern as Salome, now insulted, momentarily conceals her thirst for revenge.
10 Costume designs by Jennifer Caprio