While my daughter and her family were visiting me this week, we exchanged a lot of ideas. They are very good at finding unusual (at least to Grandma) books and videos. I happened to be talking about one of my shows they might produce as a summer camp next year, and they said how similar that story is to a story that was referenced in a Japanese video they watched. I had said the musical was based on a famous Japanese folktale that is known in Japan as "Momotaro, the Peach Pit Boy." All their ears perked up and they said, "That's in 'My Neighbors, the Yamadas!'"
So, we had go directly to spend the afternoon watching some of the episodes. The animation is quite unique. It is beautifully simple art, quite impressionistic, almost like a comic strip. Cute stories and interesting music. The reference to Momotaro, though, was very brief. It was in an episode explaining how the couple got their two children. It was not the full story of "Momotaro."
When my youngest son was in Kindergarten, he brought home a book from the school library. It was the retelling of a Japanese folktale about a hero. When we read it that night, I was surprised that my little 5-year-old wiggle-wart listened with great interest to the entire book that had very few pictures. Then it occurred to me that this story would make a great Children's Theater piece.
When my youngest son was in Kindergarten, he brought home a book from the school library. It was the retelling of a Japanese folktale about a hero. When we read it that night, I was surprised that my little 5-year-old wiggle-wart listened with great interest to the entire book that had very few pictures. Then it occurred to me that this story would make a great Children's Theater piece.
At the time I was preparing to direct a Summer Theater Camp for the 5-8 year old group. I was having a hard time finding a musical that seemed right for our little group. We had a bunch of boys (very unusual for Children's Theater) ages 5-8 and even more girls, most of them very young. I needed a musical theater piece that would keep the attention of the boys and still have something lyrical and beautiful for the girls to love.
The story of Momotaro was perfect. It had a lot of mythical creatures in it as well as the central character that becomes a hero. I introduced it to the children as a SUPERHERO story, kind of like Jackie Chan and Tom Thumb rolled into one.
Tom Thumb because the parents got him in a very unusual way. And Jackie Chan because he defended his village against the evil demons by using Martial Arts.
Jackie Chan was a popular movie actor at the time who was known for his impossible martial arts stunts.
That was all it took to hook the boys. They got on board right away.
Tom Thumb because the parents got him in a very unusual way. And Jackie Chan because he defended his village against the evil demons by using Martial Arts.
Jackie Chan was a popular movie actor at the time who was known for his impossible martial arts stunts.
That was all it took to hook the boys. They got on board right away.
Momotaro with his animal friends as they go on their Quest to fight the Oni Monsters. The boys loved doing the Martial Arts moves and the girls enjoyed the dances with ribbon wands and the fabric river. They all liked the fantasy feel of this interesting story. I am always amazed at how well this little show is accepted by the audiences.
Enjoy "Momotaro, a Tale of Bravery."
Enjoy "Momotaro, a Tale of Bravery."
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