Momotaro aka The Peachboy is one of the all-time beloved tales of Japanese folklore, and for good reason. It has all the makings of a classic hero’s journey: the childless couple, a warrior born from mysterious circumstances, an oddball cast of lovable talking animals—dog, monkey, and pheasant—that must work together to defeat a common enemy.  It’s a wonder such an action-packed adventure tale has never been adapted into a major feature in the West.  

Until now! Wishing Chair Productions' newest puppet show brings the story of Momotaro to life in an immersive retelling featuring a traditional hand-painted backdrop, original soundtrack, plus exquisite hand-carved Bunraku puppets (a Japanese puppetry style in which puppetteers maneuver the puppets directly) built in-house.

In service to authenticity, director Bret Wilson has chosen to keep the soundtrack's narration in Japanese (with generous guidance from the Japanese Consulate).  Thanks to some amazing vocal talent, this narration helps set a beautiful, poetic pace that lasts throughout the show.  Much like watching an anime with the subtitles turned on, there will be English projected onto a screen during all spoken Japanese. It is fun and intuitive to follow along with the story, even for audiences who haven’t yet begun to read. 

At the Main Library
May 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26 
10:30 and 11:30 a.m. (28 minutes)
For ages 5-12, but all are welcome.
Look out for the show on the Puppet Truck during Artober!

To learn more about the hero at the…pit of the story, check out these books: [[nid:3815]][[nid:3816]] [[nid:3818]][[nid:3817]]