Review
PROJECT: WHOOPING CRANE
Green Fools Theatre
Created and performed by Jennie Esdale and Dean Bareham
Written by Dean Bareham, Jennie Esdale, Eileen Sproule and Dave Clarke
Directed by Eileen Sproule
Runs until December 21
Crump Manor
Green Fools Theatre’s Project: Whooping Crane is about an endangered species, but it doesn’t preach environmental or political views. It’s simply a remarkable example of theatrical storytelling.
The play’s creators and actor-puppeteers, Jennie Esdale and Dean Bareham, embody whooping cranes as well as human characters. The show includes masks, shadow puppets, marionettes and life-sized puppets.
The story follows the journey of one crane, Hope, who has lost her love after an accident involving a barbed-wire fence. At the same time, it also follows the progress of Miracles, a newborn chick who is learning how to become independent on his own. There are also two humans named Ruth and Gerry who care for and protect the cranes. The show, which is based on real-life accounts of the relationships between biologists and birds, does a remarkable job of showing how passionate these people are about the cranes they care for.
Project: Whooping Crane is cyclical, with the ending and beginning connecting seamlessly, as do the realistic scenes and dream sequences that occur throughout the show. The music, composed by Dave Clarke, includes sounds from real whooping cranes to enhance the story. Eileen Sproule’s direction keeps up the story’s momentum without losing the intimacy of each character. While the plight of the whooping crane as an endangered species could have made for a tragic tale, the Green Fools instead focus on the positive, emphasizing what is being done to protect the birds.
This is a show for all ages and, child or adult, I predict the reaction will be the same – sheer delight. From the show’s opening, which tells the story of whooping cranes as a species, to the stories of the individual cranes we meet later on, every element of the play is sure to captivate audiences. As a matter of fact, this is one piece I would recommend to everyone I know.
The Green Fools remind us of the magic of theatre. Rather than using a traditional script, Project: Whooping Crane tells its story through expression, movement and musical narrative. Instead of limiting our understanding, the lack of words adds to the charm of the show. And, even though it is set in Canada and focuses on one species, the play becomes universal and represents the struggles of all endangered creatures and the people who work to protect them. |
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