THEMES

Fables

Morals

Ethical Values

Life Lessons

Conflict Resolution

Trust

Patience

Acceptance

Friendship

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AESOP’S FABLESSTUDY GUIDE

For Educators and Families

Welcome to Carousel Theatre’s production of Aesop’s Fables and its companion Resource Guide for Educators and Families! Carousel Theatre is overjoyed to be presenting Aesop’s Fables at The Waterfront Theatre! This show is perfect for any school trip to entertain, enlighten, and interact with students, teachers, and parents in a fun-filled hour of theatre! Wolfie, Syd, Barry, and Harriet invite you into their magical world where anything is possible when you use your imagination. Whether it’s The Tortoise and the Hare or The Boy Who Cried Wolf, everyone knows at least one of Aesop’s classic fables. In this spellbinding production, storytellers use song, dance, and drama to bring these famous fables to life. Youngsters will enjoy discovering life’s big lessons in this delightful revue. We hope you enjoy this Resource Guide and as always, if you have any suggestions, we would love to hear from you. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 604.669.3410 or email us at schools@carouseltheatre.ca.

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Page)

1. Themes

2. Synopsis

3. About The Writers/

Aesop

4. Interview with Set & Costume Designer

5. Classroom Activities

6. Theatre Etiquette

Theatre Terms

7. Character Breakdown

Production Credits

Interesting Links

8. About Carousel Theatre

Sponsors

Contact Us!

Family Performances: Feb. 18-26 School Matinees: Feb.17-24 Stories included in Aesop’s Fables: The Tortoise and the Hare The Boy who Cried Wolf The Wolf and the Jackdaw The Lion and the Mouse

Adaptation by Mike Kenny

Aesop’s Fables

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The Synopsis

The story begins with one wagon and four storytellers/ musicians: Wolfie, Harriet, Syd, and Barry. There four friends start by introducing themselves to the audience and telling a short fable of The North Wind and the Sun. After this, it is time for each storyteller to tell a fable of their own. Barry tells the classic story of The Tortoise and the Hare. He begins the story with the pompous hare exclaiming to the tortoise that he is the fastest hare there ever was and could most certainly beat the tortoise in a race. The tortoise accepts this challenge and the race begins with the hare whizzing away to the finish line. The tortoise slowly begins to walk. The hare is running here and there, looking up and down, swerving this way and that way until a wave of exhaustion hit him! The hare decides to take just a short nap. He awakes all rested and ready to continue the race. As he turns the final bend towards the finish line he sees to his astonishment the tortoise crossing the finish line! It only goes to show that slow and steady wins the race. Syd tells the tale of The Lion and The Mouse. The story begins with a lion that has just devoured a wolf, who crunched a fox, who munched a sparrow, who gobbled a spider, who gulped down an ant. Along comes a tiny mouse that runs directly into the giant lion! The lion decides to let this mouse go without eating him. The mouse thanks him and promises to repay the favour one day. Later on the mouse finds this lion trapped in a hunter’s net! The mouse starts nibbling away at the net. The mouse nibbles and nibbles and nibbles until the lion is released from the nets grips! The lion thanks the mouse, his new friend, for all his help and realizes that no matter how itty bitty or how big and bad a person may be, they all have their strengths. Harriet tells the tale of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. This fable starts with a shepherd boy who takes his sheep up to the hills. This is a very boring job and the shepherd boy cannot find anything to entertain him. He tried counting the sheep and talking to them but he was still bored. The shepherd boy decides to yell, “WOLF! WOLF!” The farmer and his wife come running from the town and up the hill to find the shepherd boy with all the sheep and no wolf in sight. The farmer and his wife start back down the hill and into town. The shepherd boy decides that he will, once again, yell “Wolf, Wolf!” The farmer and his wife come running from the town and up the hill to find, for the second time, the boy and all his sheep. They scowl the boy and then walk back down the hill and into town. Just then a Wolf comes from within the sheep, revealing himself. The boy then shouts, “Wolf! Wolf!” but nobody comes. He shouts, yells, and screams some more as he hurries up a tree. The farmer and his wife never came running up the hill thinking, once again, that the boy is lying again. Wolfie tells the story of The Wolf and the Jackdaw. This fable starts with a beautiful jackdaw (a type of crow) about to enjoy a nice meal when along comes a wolf. This wolf immediately sees this lushes piece of meat in the jackdaw’s mouth. The wolf approaches the jackdaw and begins complimenting its beautiful feathers, beautiful beak, and what must be a beautiful voice. The wolf tries to convince the bird that she should sing. After much convincing, the jackdaw lets out a song. As the jackdaw is doing this the wolf snatches the piece of meat that has fallen from the bird’s beak. The jackdaw is furious with the wolf and tells him to give her meat back! The wolf refuses and gobbles down the food. Just as the meat is sliding down the bone gets stuck in the wolf’s throat! The wolf begs, pleads, and promises the bird jewels from head to toe if the bird would only stick her beak into the wolf’s throat and retrieve the bone. Reluctantly, the bird does stick her beak down his throat and takes out the bone. Once the wolf is safe from death the bird demands the jewels promised to her. The wolf only laughs and explains that you should never trust a wolf.

Costume Renderings by Drew Facey

About The Writers

Aesop

Aesop lived approximately 620-560 BC. It is unknown where Aesop was born but it is shared knowledge that it was somewhere in Greece. He lived in Greece for almost all his life as a slave. It is not known exactly where he worked but it was either in Samos, a small island off of the coast of Greece, in Ethiopia, or in Athens. It is said that later in his life Aesop became a free man. His very famous marble statue can be found in the Villa Albani in Rome. This statue is disfigured and is said to depict Aesop’s real body that was misshapen. In 1484 Aesop’s fables were first translated into English by William Caxton. These fables were first believed not to be written for children literature but actually disguised social and political criticisms faced in Greece at that time. Most of Aesop’s fables were discovered between 800-1000 years after his time so that does cast doubt on the authorship of these fables. Perhaps, they were merely a collection of fables that Aesop’s had gathered. Perhaps, there are still more out there for us to find.

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Mike Kenny, Playwright

Mike Kenny is one of the England’s leading writers, specialising in young people's theatre. He is the recipient of numerous awards, was included in the Independent on Sunday's list of Top Ten Living UK Playwrights and his plays are performed regularly throughout the UK and all over the world. His works include the 2008 adaptation of E Nesbit's The Railway Children at the National Railway Museum in York. The first production featured a working Stirling Single (GNR 4-2-2 No.1) steam locomotive on a real rail track. AWARDS & NOMINATIONS The Gardener: shortlisted for Deutschen Kindertheaterpreis, Diary of an Action Man: Best Children's Play (Time Out Critics Choice). The Last Freak Show: Edinburgh Festival Pick of the Fringe, Manchester Evening News nom, Best Fringe Show, Stepping Stones: Best Children's Play (Writers' Guild of Great Britain), Stuck: short listed for Writer's Guild Best Children's Play, Sink or Swim: Best Children's Play (Time Out), Flags and Bandages: Best Children's Play (British Theatre Institute), Mind the Gap: Barclays TMA Award for Special Achievement in Regional Theatre (2002), Arts Council of England - first ever recipient of The Children's Award for playwriting for children (2000).

An Interview with DREW FACEY, Set and Costume Designer for AESOP’S FABLES

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How did you become a stage designer and why? I was raised in a theatre family and I've been working on plays since I was 9 years old. I've always loved stage design and it just made sense for me to build a career as a designer. I spent a lot of time training in the visual arts and then combined that with theatre training and started working professionally about 5 years ago.

What is the biggest show you have ever worked one? The biggest show I've ever worked on was my set design for the Mainstage at Bard on the Beach in 2010. I designed sets for Much Ado About Nothing and Antony & Cleopatra. How long does it take you from the design meetings to the finish product? It totally depends on the show but it's usually about six months from my first design meeting to opening night. What are the challenges you face designing this show? One of the challenges with this play was finding creative ways for people to play animals. I've designed head pieces that show the various animals. It's also tricky to figure out where the play should take place. The director and I have come up with a concept that there is a troupe of performers travelling around in a caravan. This caravan pops open to become a little portable stage. What was your favourite fable as a child? The Tortoise and the Hare was my favorite. It always made me laugh that the Tortoise snuck in there and grabbed the win from the Hare. Drew Facey is a three time Jessie Award winning Set and Costume designer and seven time nominee. In the past four years he has worked as a designer on over 60 shows. He also trained extensively in English Literature at Concordia University and as a visual artist both at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and through a private apprenticeship in Montreal as a glass sculptor. http://www.drewfacey.com/

Classroom Activities (Please feel free to use activities from other sections, tailored to your group’s needs)

1. Please read and discuss the section in this Study Guide about Theatre Etiquette.

2. Encourage your students to look at different aspects of the production. Assign a group to each of

the following, and have a discussion following the performance: Lights, Sound, Costumes, Set. Fables vs. Stories: Discuss with the class what the difference between a story and fable is by reading them some short fables and stories. Popsicle Puppets! Have your student draw pictures of the animals in their favourite fable, carefully cut them out and glue them onto a popsicle stick! Colouring Sheet: Below you will find a picture of the Tortoise and the Hare crossing the finishing line. Have a colouring contest. http://www.first-school.ws/t/cp_fstories/tortoise_hareb.html Critter Collage: In fables, animals take on human traits or characteristics. Have your students make a collage of different animals and label human traits that they think each animal might represent. Fables Chart: With your students go through the elements of a story before watching the show. Have them look for these elements while at the show. After they have watched the performance have your students fill in the chart here: http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/readingliterature/genres/fable/fable_chart.pdf Be an Author:

Think of an experience you had where you learned a lesson. Rewrite this experience as a fable with animals as the main characters. *The chart above is a good guide when writing a fable.

Animated Animals: Animals are traditionally used to tell fables. Why is this? Research and write a short essay.

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Theatre Etiquette

Food, drinks, candy and gum are not permitted in the theatre. If your class has packed lunches, please ensure that they stay inside backpacks until your group has left the theatre.

Please remind your students that the rest of the audience, and the actors, can hear them if they talk during the performance, even if they whisper. Excessive movement is also distracting.

Remind your students not to approach or touch the stage, sets or props before, after or during the show.

Please encourage your students to use the washroom facilities prior to being seated. There is no intermission during our student matinees. Individuals who need to leave the theatre will be re-seated at a convenient moment during the performance.

If anyone in your group needs to leave the theatre during the performance, we ask that you do so through the exit door on house right, mid-way up the stairs. Students are not permitted to leave the theatre unless accompanied by an adult.

Throwing of objects or use of laser pointers during the performance is not permitted. Carousel Theatre reserves the right to stop a performance if such behaviour occurs, and ask the offending party to leave.

Please note that photography and videotaping (or other video or audio recording) of this production is prohibited.

Absolutely no cell phones, PDAs, iPods or video gaming systems, will be tolerated in the theatre (they must be off, and out of sight) – students, parents, and teachers included.

If you are planning a day trip to Granville Island to see the performance, we please ask that your class visit the Kids

Market after the show. Also, please call the administration at the Kids Market to let them know you will be bringing your class (they appreciate the notice, if possible). The number is (604) 689-8447.

We encourage our audiences to respond to our performances; laughter is welcomed when appropriate and applause at

the end of a performance is the best feedback of all. If you really like the performance, a way you can show the actors is by standing up and clapping (called a ‘standing ovation’). Standing ovations are used when you think the performance was extra special and deserving.

Enjoy the performance!

Theatre Terms Actor A performer who tells a story to the audience by playing a character. Director The person responsible for guiding the actors, designers, and crew according to his or her artistic

vision. The director works with the actors and the design team to create the world of the play. Stage Manager The person responsible for making sure all of the technical aspects of a show run smoothly. In a

theatre, the Stage Manager sits in the lighting booth, behind the audience, and “calls the show”. This means that they give cues throughout the performance to the lighting operator, the sound technician, and to the Assistant Stage Manager.

Blocking This is the director’s planning of the actor’s movements on stage. Technical Rehearsal Also called “Tech”, this rehearsal is specifically to establish and run through lighting and sound

cues. The technical rehearsal gives the technicians a chance to program the sound and lights with actors, and it gives the actors a feel for the show with sound and lights.

Dress Rehearsal The full running of the production before the show opens to the public.

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Character Breakdown & Production Credits

Character Breakdown Wolfie He is the leader of the storyteller. He tells the story of The Wolf and the Jackdaw. He also plays other characters in his peer’s stories.

Syd A storyteller eager to share the story of The Lion and The Mouse. He also acts out the different characters in each story.

Harriet The third storyteller to tell the audience about The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Harriet also acts along in the other stories.

Barry He is the newest of the four storytellers. He shares a classic, The Tortoise and the Hare. As like the others, Barry takes his turn acting the stories being told.

Costume Renderings by Drew Facey

Carousel Theatre is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) and, under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, engages professional artists who

are members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.

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Interesting Links

Information on Playwright Mike Kenny   http://www.playsforyoungaudiences.org/playwrights/mike‐kenny  Online Aesop’s Fables Collection http://aesopfables.com/   Fables‐ Teacher Guide http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/readingliterature/genres/fable/fable.htm  Information on Aesop’s Fables http://www.aesops‐fables.org.uk/  Aesop's Fables Activities http://www.mcwdn.org/fables/fabact.html  The Tortoise and the Hare Fable‐ Lesson Plan/Activities http://www.first‐school.ws/activities/fable/turtlehare.htm 

Production Team

Director……………...…………..…. Carole Higgins Set & Costumes Designer.… Drew Facey Lighting Designer…………..…. Darren Boquist Sound Designer………………… Corina Akeson & Jeff Tymoschuk Stage Manager……………........ Benjamin Cheung Apprentice Stage Manager. Carol Macdonald Technical Director.................... Al Frisk Head of Wardrobe................... Darryl Milot Cast (in alphabetical order) Harriet…………………………….. Mishelle Cuttler Barry……………………………….. Kayvon Kelly Syd…………………………………. Melissa Oei Wolfie………………………......... Mike Stack

1411 Cartwright Street Vancouver, BC V6H 3R7

TEL 604.669.3410 BOX OFFICE 604.685.6217

FAX 604.669.3817 WEB www.carouseltheatre.ca

About Carousel Theatre

Carousel Theatre for Young People, now in its 37th season, has produced over 145 plays for young people. Unique in our community, Carousel Theatre is the only professional theatre company in BC that stages a mainstage season of theatre especially for young people and families. Our programming offers a wide choice of exciting theatrical experiences for family audiences. Each season more than 40 000 young people and their families benefit from Carousel Theatre’s unique programming, which includes a Mainstage Season of Literary Classics at the Waterfront Theatre, a summer Shakespeare Teen Program and a year-round Theatre School for young people ages 3 to 17 years. Carousel Theatre is a cultural leader in our community. In 2011, the company (and our artists) was honoured with the Jessie Richardson Theatre Award for Outstanding Production- Theatre for Young Audiences for our acclaimed production of Bird Brain. Carousel is a member of PACT (Professional Association of Canadian Theatres), the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance, Alliance for Arts & Culture and the Vancouver Theatre for Young Audiences Society. Carousel Theatre has been creating theatre for young audiences for 37 years and has introduced theatre to hundreds of thousands of young people. We inspire and develop new generations of artists and theatre patrons.

Our Sponsors Carousel Theatre would like to thank the following organizations for their support of Aesop’s Fables:

Contact Us!

The Study Guide for Educators and Families was written by Monique Pearson. For more information on this production, or other Carousel Theatre inquiries, please contact: 604.669.3410 or schools@carouseltheatre.ca

Artistic & Managing Director, Carole Higgins

Page 8 Costume Renderings by Drew Facey