December 1, 2004
El Popol Vu creative theater
Traverse City Children's Theater performs adaptation of Mayan creation myth
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Bringing to life animals who could not talk, people made of mud and sticks and the Lords of Darkness, the Traverse City Children's Theater presented "El Popol Vu" in two public performances this weekend.
Retelling the 'oldest story in America,' these four actors presented an adaptation of the Mayan creation myth Saturday morning at the Traverse Area District Library and Sunday afternoon at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center.
Led by theater director Luis Araquistain, the play followed Four Creations - ruled in turn by the Jaguar, Wind, Rain and Water - and the people created by Heart of the Sky and the Feathered Serpent during each iteration. The story then followed the antics and challenges of the twins Hunapu and Ixbalanque, who became the moon and the sun.
"The creation myth is a common story and it does lend itself to dramatic interpretation," Araquistain said. "If you think of ancient Greek myths, there are all different takes on it and people who try to modernize it."
Araquistain tapped a screenplay adaptation of the tale written by Richard Talavera, a friend and fellow theater professional from San Francisco. For three years, he and Talavera comprised a two-man traveling children's theater troupe.
"I think it [Talavera's script] was based on some improv scenes that he did with some members of a Latino theater company called El Teatro de la Esperanza [Theater of Hope] based in San Francisco," said Araquistain, who moved to the Traverse City area from that city in 2002. "It was not a complete script and we had to work with it."
"El Popol Vu" is the third production of the Education Outreach Program, an arm of the Traverse City Children's Theater. In 2003-2004, the program presented "A Thousand Cranes" to students around the region as well as the general public. Their second production, "Theater Through Time," traveled to schools last spring.
Araquistain estimates that 3,000 students will see a presentation of "El Popol Vu" this fall, including students at Kingsley Elementary, Traverse Heights and the Grand Traverse Academy. A grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs helped the Children's Theater stage "El Popol Vu" for both school children and the public.
The play, a rollicking modern adaptation of the creation story, quickly engages the audience and also invites their participation. At various points, cast members roamed the audience and students also helped in the production by portraying the Lords of Xibalba. An intermittent soundtrack provided comic effects, with snippets ranging from the Batman theme to The Doors to the scary music from the movie "Psycho."
All in all, Araquistain and his cast are having a blast presenting "El Popol Vu."
"At Kingsley, there were over 600 students and they were laughing and just the sound of 600 kids laughing was mind-blowing," recalled Araquistain, who also sent out information packets on "El Popol Vu" to teachers at participating schools.
A live performance still entrances and educates kids, even in a television-saturated culture, noted Araquistain.
"The one thing that live theater can do that television can't do, particularly in a play where we have audience interaction, is incorporate the audience members," he said.
Three of the four "El Popol Vu" cast members are students at Northwestern Michigan College, receiving college credit for their participation. The fourth, Tanya Donahue, is a part-time instructor and substitute teacher at Interlochen Pathfinder School and a theater veteran.
Donahue designed and created the vibrant and unusual costumes worn in "El Popol Vu." She researched Mayan art and the story of the creation on the Internet and in books.
With multiple costume changes per cast member - each completed at high speed behind the portable backdrop that frames the production - Donahue sought simplicity. She tapped Old Town Playhouse wardrobe veteran Kathy Verstrate for advice and wound up crafting stunning concoctions of feathers, beads, bamboo and material.
"I had great suggestions from fellow cast members, too," Donahue said.
For more information on the Traverse City Children's Theater, Educational Outreach Programs scheduled for 2005 or El Popol Vu, call Araquistain at 947-2210.