Sat 4/7-Sun 4/29
For its next production, the peripatetic Talespinner Children’s Theatre, which travels all over the world without leaving its home in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood, travels to Africa for The Oba Asks for a Mountain (A Tale of Nigeria).
Like most of its productions, this one is based on a folktale adapted for the stage by a usually local playwright, but in this case Canadian Gail Nyoka. In it, the Oba, a wealthy, powerful king, wants still more wealth and power. But when tries to seize the lands of the Ilesha people, a trio of young people nonviolently stands in his way. Is there a lesson here for Americans? Only if you want there to be!
For the kids, there will be Talespinner’s usual deployment of music, movement, dance, costuming, lighting and set design, puppets and masks which make every production a veritable festival on stage. The productions are interactive too, calling on kids (and their adults) to be more than passive spectators.
Performances take place Fridays and Saturdays @ 7pm, Saturdays and Sundays @ 2pm. Tickets are $10 for 12 and under, $13 for 13 and over, $12 for seniors and college students with ID. Fridays and Sun 4/8 are “pay what you can” performances.
Cleveland, OH 44102