Elisheva Hart enthusiastically recommends [sight unseen]:

"Monkey: The Quest to the West". Adapted from the Comic Chinese Classic,
"The Journey to the West". Created and performed by Laura Jorgensen and
Fred Curchack.

The story follows the supernatural trickster Monkey King who makes war
with heaven until he is imprisoned under a mountain by Buddha. After 500
years, he is freed to protect a Buddhist monk on his perilous journey from
China to India to bring back spiritual teachings. On the way they encounter
all manner of dieties, deamons, monsters and outrageous misadventures.

Many Chinese puppet plays-using shadow or hand puppets-have performed
this story. In olden days upper class women were not allowed to accompany
their husbands to the theatres and so commissioned the puppeteers perform in
their homes. Our guild saw some fine examples of these puppet plays at the
S.F. Chinese Cultural Center in the early 1980's. Many other types of
performances also draw on this source material: Beijung Opera, Chinese
ballet, Kung fu movies, anime, and even the US's "Lost Empire."

Anyone interested in Asian puppetry/dance/theatre should see this
terrific duo perform.

Their performances have many similarities to a small puppet theatre
performance. Only two performers create many characters by changing voices
and costume bits, use a minimum of props to set the stage, etc. We all have
a lot to learn from this oh so professional team. Last year they even used
some shadows in their performance! P.S. Appropriate for all ages.

Cinnabar Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd N., Petaluma, Calif. (707)763-8920
Friday and Saturday
February 1 and 2 (reserve tix recommended)
$20 for adults
$15 for seniors and students