Long, long ago in an ancient land where the mountains meet the sea...
Click here to view the entire video of "Never Cry Wolf!" 2007
The story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" is ancient indeed. It was told by the Greek storyteller and philosopher Aesop who lived in the 6th century BC. By his time, the Greek culture already had an even more ancient past. To young children, people who are just a generation away from them in age are considered ancient.
When I directed my first retelling of this story with a very young cast of 5-7 year olds, getting them to understand any amount of culture and history was a bit of a challenge. So we focused on aspects of the story they could understand more readily -- having parents who love their children and want them to become the best they can be, doing WORK and the different types of jobs people have, and the bad feelings you get when you do not tell the truth.
Some concepts were harder to explain, such as SINCERITY and RESPONSIBILITY. Very young children live only in the present and have a hard time understanding complex emotions and situations. Hopefully through the story they began to get an idea of how our actions and what we say can affect how we and others feel and what happens because of us.
The second retelling of this story became a more expanded version that I renamed "Never Cry Wolf." The idea was to create a show that could be learned in a two week Summer Intensive Theater Camp. The families at Church were all onboard to help and provide this opportunity for of our children. We depended on everybody to get involved in some way. I was overwhelmed by the talent that came out of the woodwork to volunteer time and effort.
We had moms who could sew and paint and dance and sing to teach the children. Some others volunteered to be Group Leaders who followed the 8-10 children in their age-range group through their day to keep them organized and cared for. They even helped them sponge paint their own T-shirt costumes and design their shields. We had a few mothers who organized Ancient Greek "cultural experiences" with spinning wool, weaving, building mosaics and making/tasting hummus. We even had Nursery and Recess helpers.
Some of the moms and dads helped build the stage, sets, and hang lighting, and some gave technical support and video taped the shows and took pictures. We had 75 kids ages 2-14 in the camp and almost as many parent helpers involved with the show. Believe me, this story took on new meaning for the parents -- they got it. This show was indeed about the values of SINCERITY and hard WORK! I only hope the children got it, as well!
When I directed my first retelling of this story with a very young cast of 5-7 year olds, getting them to understand any amount of culture and history was a bit of a challenge. So we focused on aspects of the story they could understand more readily -- having parents who love their children and want them to become the best they can be, doing WORK and the different types of jobs people have, and the bad feelings you get when you do not tell the truth.
Some concepts were harder to explain, such as SINCERITY and RESPONSIBILITY. Very young children live only in the present and have a hard time understanding complex emotions and situations. Hopefully through the story they began to get an idea of how our actions and what we say can affect how we and others feel and what happens because of us.
The second retelling of this story became a more expanded version that I renamed "Never Cry Wolf." The idea was to create a show that could be learned in a two week Summer Intensive Theater Camp. The families at Church were all onboard to help and provide this opportunity for of our children. We depended on everybody to get involved in some way. I was overwhelmed by the talent that came out of the woodwork to volunteer time and effort.
We had moms who could sew and paint and dance and sing to teach the children. Some others volunteered to be Group Leaders who followed the 8-10 children in their age-range group through their day to keep them organized and cared for. They even helped them sponge paint their own T-shirt costumes and design their shields. We had a few mothers who organized Ancient Greek "cultural experiences" with spinning wool, weaving, building mosaics and making/tasting hummus. We even had Nursery and Recess helpers.
Some of the moms and dads helped build the stage, sets, and hang lighting, and some gave technical support and video taped the shows and took pictures. We had 75 kids ages 2-14 in the camp and almost as many parent helpers involved with the show. Believe me, this story took on new meaning for the parents -- they got it. This show was indeed about the values of SINCERITY and hard WORK! I only hope the children got it, as well!
The last few weeks have taken me through many memories of writing and directing shows...but mostly of remembering the children. As I edited the videos of past shows, I wondered about those children. Some, I know, have grown up, gone to college, chosen careers and even gotten married. Time flies by and in no time, WE, the former teachers, become ancient history. Fortunately, there are always younger kids waiting to come up the ranks.
Perhaps that is why I enjoy writing and directing Children's Theater. I so love seeing things through their new eyes.
Perhaps that is why I enjoy writing and directing Children's Theater. I so love seeing things through their new eyes.
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