Things rarely turn out as planned. The Sky is Falling: Fables for the New Millenium, a new All Nations Theatre play, examines similar obstacles in fable form. Off-stage as well, the play turned out differently than it first began.
Five years ago, playwright Andrea Munro decided to write down fictitious conversations she could have with characters from stories and fables she remembered from her childhood. It was later suggested to her, by director Natasha Nadir, she should write in play format.
The play is full of characters that have stayed close to our hearts for generations. However, this time around, instead of the morals they taught us as a child, there are new issues.
"The old fables teach us to share and stuff like that, but these are the new fables, they are for the ’90s person, with all our kind of psycho-babble," says Nadir.
All of the stories are brought together, by the ever-popular end-of-the-world theme. Each animal is trying to get on Noah’s Ark in it’s own way. Along the way the animals are asking philosophical questions and getting either depressed or excited as a result. For example, after some coaxing by a certain depressed donkey, Hickory Dickory Dock decides not to run up the clock.
However, don’t expect to see a bunch of sweaty cast members in heavy animal suits. The costume designer, Nancy Prevost, found small fabric pieces to signify the animal. For instance the actor who plays Eeyore for instance, wears only a tail. With a cast of five portraying more than 20 characters, quick costume changes were a must.
The Sky is Falling discusses beginnings, endings, and where you fit in the world. It also entertains the audience along the way. The writing is noticeably clever. The jokes were balanced enough to not take away from the moral, as in any fable.
The Sky is Falling is playing in the Joyce Doolittle Theatre at the Pumphouse Theatres from March 21 to April 1 with a special matinee showing on Sun., March 26th at 2 p.m.