So glad to close the book on 2018. It has been such a hard year of watching my husband's health decline as he has been fighting pancreatic cancer. However, the first few days of 2019 have been markedly better for him -- less pain and able to eat better. I am very hopeful that his health might improve!
In the meantime, I can look forward to seeing "A Successor to the Throne" produced at a charter school in the area. I have made my costumes and props available to them, as well. However, that means I must dig them out of my very packed storage shed. But it can be done -- after the snow melts away!
"A Successor to the Throne" has been such a favorite show. It is based on an ancient folktale presented in darling paintings by Demi in his adorable children's picture book "The Empty Pot." While researching how to bring this little Chinese folktale to life, I was impressed by the colorful Chinese culture of music and dance. Because this story revolves around the calendar year, seasonal dances became a must. So, this show opens with a Spring Festival "Spring Is Here" with dancers dressed in pink. They dance with beautiful pink parasols as other actors dress the set with flowers.
"Summer Comes" is a work song for the men in straw hats who use hoes and rakes to till the earth. Summer is ushered in with dancers using red fans showing the hot and sunny weather.
| Autumn dancers in orange kimonos dance with ribbon wands and scarves. The mothers sing a melancholy song about how the earth gets cold and dreary as "Autumn Lingers on the Breeze." The set is redecorated with orange, yellow and red fall leaves. |  |
Winter comes in to the song "Wintertime" with dancers dressed in ice blue kimonos carrying ice wands and long white scarves representing blankets of snow. Children run under the scarves and blow snow crystals toward the audience..
Another dance is the "Imperial Garden Dance" where the dancers wave colorful Chinese dance fans in fluid formations. Most of the older girls in the cast join in this dance. These Chinese dance fans are simply beautiful as they float and wave high and low in flourishes.
The boys as the Red and Black Guards get to do a martial arts sequence, too.
And of course, no royal entourage is complete without an Imperial Processional with lanterns, flower wands and of course a puppet dragon. THIS SHOW REALLY HAS SPECTACLE!
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