When the actors took their final bow at Seattle Children's Theatre's A Single Shard my daughter turned to me and said, "I don't want it to be over." Neither did I. For two hours the rest of the world had fallen away. The white-knuckle drive in pounding rain, the hectic week of delivering Girl Scout cookies, and looming work deadlines evaporated while we took a journey with Tree Ear, the determined central character in Linda Sue Park's acclaimed YA novel cleverly adapted for the stage by Robert Schenkkan.
The simple, yet elegant scenery of A Single Shard's set transported us to the mountains of the 12th-century Korean village of Ch'ulp'o known for its fine celadon pottery. Despite the ancient time period and distant setting, the characters and dilemmas they faced felt relatable and real. Children in the audience easily grasp the various moral quandaries Tree Ear (an orphan is named for a fungus that thrives on dead trees) faces. Do you tell a farmer that his bag of rice has a hole in it even when you are starving?
My daughter was struck by the hunger and poverty endured by Tree Ear and his disabled father figure Crane Man. The two misfits eke out a living under a rotting bridge. "Mom, they were so happy to have a bit of rice." She noted. The Korean greeting "Have you eaten rice today?" takes on poignancy when one considers this all-consuming thought has affected people throughout history and still does world-wide today.
Despite his poverty, Tree Ear is drawn to the craft of pottery and longs to study under the guidance of Ch'ulp'o's legendary potter Master Min. The audience watches along with Tree Ear as Min turns a lump of clay into a pot before our eyes. Pottery Northwest has provided the actors with a real pottery wheel to use on stage. My daughter bought some clay at the gift shop after the show, eager to make her own creations.
As the story unfolds, pots and dreams shatter, but Tree Ear admirably presses on. The show is filled with enchanting surprises. Cranes fly through the air on wings made of fans and larger-than-life puppets materialize from the forest to watch Tree Ear's progress. The story is further brought to life by Crane Man who keeps Tree Ear and the audience entertained with his lively stories and playful jokes.
The age recommendation of 8 and up is a good guideline. The story deals with some powerful issues like homelessness and Crane Man tells one tale that refers to suicide. Whether or not they are familiar with Park's novel, parents and children alike will delight in this masterfully crafted show.
IF YOU GO
Where: Seattle Children’s Theatre’s Charlotte Martin Theatre, 201 Thomas St. in Seattle, located at the west entrance of Seattle Center, just north of Pacific Science Center and west of the Space Needle.
When: Through March 18, 2012. Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 5:30 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., ASL-interpreted performance on March 10 at 2 p.m.
Admission: Tickets start at $20. The Seattle Children’s Theatre recommends this production for children ages 8 and older.
Contact: 206-441-3322; www.sct.org.
Laura Spruce Wight is a Seattle-area freelance writer and mother of two.
