'Shining Princess of the Slender Bamboo' Comes to Concord Oct. 14, Oct 15

CONCORD, NH — The Children’s Theatre Project (“CTP”), the youth arm of The Community Players of Concord, NH, is proud to present, "Shining Princess of the Slender Bamboo," a fascinating, funny, magical adaptation of one of Japan’s best known and most beloved folk tales, often called “Kaguya Hime,” (“Glittering Lady”). Set to the background of traditional Japanese music and instruments and fanciful sound effects, the show features more than 32 actors, ages 8 to 17, in colorful costumes, bringing to life the tale of the mysterious Princess Moonbeam, raised by an elderly bamboo cutter and his wife who discovered her as a tiny infant, hidden inside a magically glowing stalk of bamboo, according to a press statement.

Comedy, adventure and mystery ensue as a series of bumbling suitors and even the Emperor himself vie to be chosen to marry the unimaginably beautiful princess, whose true identity is revealed in the story’s mystical and bittersweet ending. The story is thought to be more than a thousand years old and is at least as familiar to Japanese children as Cinderella is to American children.

Performances will be staged at the Concord City Auditorium (“the Audi”), 2 Prince St., Concord, at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016, and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15. Tickets are general admission and are available on line at communityplayersofconcord.org, or at the Audi Box Office. Tickets are $15, with a $2 per ticket discount if purchased on line before Oct. 12th. The Audi Box Office hours are Wed.-Fri., Oct. 12-14, 4:30–7:30 pm, and Sat. Oct. 15, noon-2:00 pm. For further ticket information, contact David Murdo at 603-344-4747, or nhdm40@comcast.net.

Director Karen Braz, co-founder of CTP and its director since the group’s inception 21 years ago, has long wanted to bring this beautiful story from another culture to the local stage, and relishes the opportunity to bring “something different” to her youth actors and audiences. The show’s “fairy tale” aspects and story line involving parents who treasure their beloved daughter may be familiar to area audiences, but the Kabuki-inspired costumes and make-up, Japanese-style music, movement and set may be new to many, Braz observes.

CTP has staged some popular, large-scale musicals over time, including favorites like Shrek, Jr. and Beauty and the Beast, Jr., but Braz is glad to be “returning in a way to CTP’s roots” as a company that focuses on fundamental theatre elements of a good story and believable acting, against the backdrop of a colorful and imaginative set and lighting. Braz believes strongly that theatre by and for children and youth must include large helpings of the classics, and of newer works, because theatre should be exploratory and educational for them, as well as entertaining.

“Too often,” Braz said, “people are drawn only to shows that they ‘know.’” This is much too limiting, according to Braz, and does our youth a disservice. “We need to encourage people, and especially youth, to view the opportunity to see something new as a plus. My goal is to encourage kids and their parents to think, ‘I’ve never seen this before – let’s go! Let’s try it! We want to teach them not to be afraid to explore, be curious and to learn. This is important, as we cultivate and train the next generation of actors, theatregoers and supporters of the arts.”

Happily, for the dozens of youth who will be performing in this show, and the hundreds who will experience it from the audience, this ancient Japanese tale of the mysterious princess born from a glowing bamboo is fun, beautiful and new.

Submitted by Ellen Burger.