Next weekend the curtain rises on a pair of thought-provoking, touching and uplifting plays aimed specifically at and for young people in Thunder Bay.
It’s all part of Magnus’ Theatre for Young Audiences School Tour 2010: a troupe of talented professionals taking the best of live theatre on the road and bringing it to youth in communities across the region who may not always, if ever, get to experience that.
And the touring actors don’t shy away from some pretty touchy, tough and gritty issues that young people everywhere at one time or another encounter. Topics in the plays in other years have included racism, literacy, drugs and alcohol, suicide and bereavement; this time the focus is on bullying, courage and healthy friendships.
The two plays entitled Jumping Mouse (for elementary school students) and Seesaw (for secondary school students), ideally carry and convey some powerful messages.
The short description of Jumping Mouse sounds wonderful. Adapted from a traditional Aboriginal legend, young minds and hearts will meet a character named Curious Mouse and her best friend Companion Mouse, as the little creatures set out on an adventure that eventually teaches them an inspiring, enduring lesson about courage.
The other play, Seesaw, revolves around teenagers in a town who are very different from one another and caught up in considerable emotional turmoil within themselves, with one another and their families.
Trust, self-esteem, insecurity, bullying, posturing: what young person hasn’t had to cope with some of these things? And if one thinks of what it feels like to be on a seesaw, especially when the other person on the other end is heavier, bigger or meaner in some way, well it’s not always such a fun ride, is it.
As the director of Jumping Mouse, Mario Crudo also offered some insight into the other production.
“The approach to Seesaw that Herbie Barnes would have taken would be to make the characters as real and honest as possible for the audience. I’m not sure if you are aware that Dennis Foon (the playwright) penned his script after many interviews and meetings with young people who were experiencing the problems presented. Herbie consulted with Foon about changes to the play so it would resonate more with young audiences in the north.”
Crudo emphasized the significance of Magnus’ mandate for live theatre tours as constructive outreach tools that can and do speak to youth.
“For the cultural health of the region and our own sustainability it’s imperative we not lose sight of serving young audiences in the more remote parts of northern Ontario. As our dear patron, the late Dr. Penny Petrone, wrote: ‘human beings cannot live by bread alone. Our hunger for things of the mind and of the spirit, of the imagination, for beauty and hope, is insatiable.’"
With its Theatre for Young Audiences School Tour 2010, Crudo said Magnus seeks to present theatre “that mirrors the lives we lead. We are the active participants: performers and audience joining together to share an experience.”
Jumping Mouse and Seesaw play at Magnus next Friday and Saturday, May 27-28. Three shows daily; tickets only $5. Call the box office for times and to reserve best seats.
It’s all part of Magnus’ Theatre for Young Audiences School Tour 2010: a troupe of talented professionals taking the best of live theatre on the road and bringing it to youth in communities across the region who may not always, if ever, get to experience that.
And the touring actors don’t shy away from some pretty touchy, tough and gritty issues that young people everywhere at one time or another encounter. Topics in the plays in other years have included racism, literacy, drugs and alcohol, suicide and bereavement; this time the focus is on bullying, courage and healthy friendships.
The two plays entitled Jumping Mouse (for elementary school students) and Seesaw (for secondary school students), ideally carry and convey some powerful messages.
The short description of Jumping Mouse sounds wonderful. Adapted from a traditional Aboriginal legend, young minds and hearts will meet a character named Curious Mouse and her best friend Companion Mouse, as the little creatures set out on an adventure that eventually teaches them an inspiring, enduring lesson about courage.
The other play, Seesaw, revolves around teenagers in a town who are very different from one another and caught up in considerable emotional turmoil within themselves, with one another and their families.
Trust, self-esteem, insecurity, bullying, posturing: what young person hasn’t had to cope with some of these things? And if one thinks of what it feels like to be on a seesaw, especially when the other person on the other end is heavier, bigger or meaner in some way, well it’s not always such a fun ride, is it.
As the director of Jumping Mouse, Mario Crudo also offered some insight into the other production.
“The approach to Seesaw that Herbie Barnes would have taken would be to make the characters as real and honest as possible for the audience. I’m not sure if you are aware that Dennis Foon (the playwright) penned his script after many interviews and meetings with young people who were experiencing the problems presented. Herbie consulted with Foon about changes to the play so it would resonate more with young audiences in the north.”
Crudo emphasized the significance of Magnus’ mandate for live theatre tours as constructive outreach tools that can and do speak to youth.
“For the cultural health of the region and our own sustainability it’s imperative we not lose sight of serving young audiences in the more remote parts of northern Ontario. As our dear patron, the late Dr. Penny Petrone, wrote: ‘human beings cannot live by bread alone. Our hunger for things of the mind and of the spirit, of the imagination, for beauty and hope, is insatiable.’"
With its Theatre for Young Audiences School Tour 2010, Crudo said Magnus seeks to present theatre “that mirrors the lives we lead. We are the active participants: performers and audience joining together to share an experience.”
Jumping Mouse and Seesaw play at Magnus next Friday and Saturday, May 27-28. Three shows daily; tickets only $5. Call the box office for times and to reserve best seats.
