Abstract:

Ambrosia of Immortality is a Balinese version of Churning the Milky Ocean where gods and demons join forces to create ambrosia and then fight over possession of it. Created with dalang, I Wayan Wija, and fifteen shadowcasters and musicians from Bali and San Francisco.

The King of the Gods and the King of the Demons are in a daily battle for control of the heavens. Like day and night both are essential to life, but sometimes things get out of control, and the God of All must intervene. He asks them to move a mountain to churn the ocean to make ambrosia. They do and then the trouble starts.

Composed by Miguel Frasconi and I Dewa Brata, Ambrosia was featured at the 1998 Henson International Puppet Festival and toured for eight weeks throughout the US.