Every country has its fables and this production, originally written by David Feldshuh, brings together a collection of tales from around the world, both traditional and contemporary. Names such as Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm will be familiar to the audience, but the folk tales of Japan, Africa and America are much less well known. Of course, the tales are all allegorical for different aspects of the human condition – most frequently death and sacrifice – although the links between the chosen stories and their meanings are left for the audience to decipher.
The cast from the Indiana Area Senior High School perform the fables with aplomb. The staging is simple and the musical accompaniment, often just a solo instrument, feels a little bare. Yet, the physicality of the multitude of characters is charming, bringing the stories to life. From Buddhist monks to sea creatures, a variety of animals and even items of clothing, they all cleverly reflect the different traditions. A tap-dancing centipede and some robotic music box figurines are especially well depicted.
Some of the cast were more confident than others, but all provided some clear and well-rehearsed performances. With its mix of comedy and serious message, this is real family entertainment.
