Mapou Tree: Performances And Reviews

Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree is a children's play adapted from Haitian folklore by Greer Sucke. It consists of two short plays, Why the Sun Still Shines and This Way or That?, featuring shape-changing magicians, elephants, and a two-headed dragon. The play has been performed by various institutions, including Creative Greensboro in partnership with Scrapmettle Blueprints, and requires a flexible cast of six or more. Audience reviews describe it as an exciting exploration of Haitian folklore and culture that the whole family can enjoy.

'Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree' explores Haitian folklore and culture

'Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree' is a children's play adapted from Haitian folklore by Greer Sucke. It consists of two short plays, "Why the Sun Still Shines" and "This Way or That?". The play explores Haitian folklore and culture through storytelling, costumes, set design, and language, providing an educational and immersive experience for the audience.

"Why the Sun Still Shines" is a thrilling tale about a wicked werewolf's plot to steal the sun and plunge the world into eternal darkness. On the other hand, "This Way or That?" follows the adventures of Bouki, a not-so-wise young traveller, who angers the God of the Crossroads and finds himself in a series of dangerous situations. Bouki must outwit stomping elephants, hungry cannibals, and a fearsome two-headed dragon. The play encourages children's participation, as they take on roles such as elephants, cannibals, and a unique group of villagers who do everything backward.

The play was presented by Creative Greensboro in partnership with Scrapmettle Blueprints in October 2021. Kerrie Mubarrak, CEO of Scrapmettle, emphasised the importance of using art to help children experience and explore different cultures. The production aimed to showcase the culture of Haiti through various creative elements, including storytelling, costume design, set design, and language.

"Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree" offers an engaging and interactive way to learn about Haitian folklore and culture, making it a valuable experience for both entertainment and educational purposes.

The play is an adaptation of two short plays

"Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree" is a play adapted from Haitian folklore by Greer Sucke. It consists of two short plays: "Why the Sun Still Shines" and "This Way or That?". The play explores Haitian culture and folklore through storytelling, costumes, set design, and language.

"Why the Sun Still Shines" is about a wicked werewolf who plots to steal the sun and plunge the world into everlasting darkness. This short play is a thrilling tale of danger and intrigue, with the potential for creative stage effects to showcase the sun and its light being stolen.

"This Way or That?" follows a not-very-wise young traveler named Bouki who angers the God of the Crossroads and must outwit various obstacles, including stomping elephants, hungry cannibals, and a two-headed dragon. This short play involves audience participation, with children playing the roles of elephants, cannibals, and a unique group of villagers who do everything backward.

The play "Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree" has been performed by various theatre groups, including Creative Greensboro in partnership with Scrapmettle Blueprints. The performances aimed to engage children and families, providing an educational and entertaining exploration of Haitian culture and folklore. The play offers opportunities for creative staging, audience interaction, and a celebration of Haitian traditions and mythology.

The adaptation of two short plays into "Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree" allows for a dynamic and varied performance, showcasing different aspects of Haitian folklore and providing a range of roles for young performers. The combination of these two tales creates an engaging and immersive theatrical experience that captures the imagination of both young and adult audiences.

The cast includes children playing elephants and villagers

"Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree" is a children's play adapted from Haitian folklore by Greer Sucke. The play consists of two short plays, "Why the Sun Still Shines" and "This Way or That?". The cast includes six children who play elephants and villagers, but the cast is flexible and can include more than six children.

In "Why the Sun Still Shines," a wicked werewolf plots to steal the sun and plunge the world into everlasting darkness. The other play, "This Way or That?", follows a not-very-wise young traveler named Bouki who angers the God of the Crossroads and is forced to outwit stomping elephants, hungry cannibals, and a two-headed dragon. Children participate as elephants, cannibals, and an unusual group of villagers who do everything backward.

The play explores Haitian folklore and culture through storytelling, costumes, set design, and language. It provides an opportunity for children to experience and learn about Haitian culture through art, stretching their talents and perspectives. The play has been performed by various groups, including Creative Greensboro in partnership with Scrapmettle Blueprints, who presented the play in October 2021.

The play was performed in Greensboro, North Carolina

The play "Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree" was performed in Greensboro, North Carolina, in October 2021. The performances took place at the Van Dyke Performance Space at the Greensboro Cultural Center, with showings on Saturday, October 16, at 2:30 and 6 pm, and on Sunday, October 17, at 2 pm. The play was presented by Creative Greensboro, in partnership with Scrapmettle Blueprints, and was written by Greer Sucke.

"Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree" is a children's play that explores Haitian folklore and culture. It features shape-changing magicians, elephants, and a two-headed dragon, all coming together to tell tales of wonder and sing songs that explain why one shouldn't sleep under the Mapou tree. The play provides an opportunity for children to experience Haitian culture through storytelling, costumes, set design, and language.

Creative Greensboro has a long-standing commitment to providing children with opportunities to explore the imaginative world of theater. Their programs emphasize the process over the product, creating a space that fosters a successful journey in both art and life. This aligns with the mission of Scrapmettle Entertainment, a Greensboro-based network of writers, directors, and performing artists. Scrapmettle Entertainment seeks to honor theater tradition while also creating new performances that reveal what lies beneath the surface of the human experience, using it as a learning tool through realistic scenes on stage.

The performances of "Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree" in Greensboro, North Carolina, were well-received, with Kerrie Mubarrak, CEO of Scrapmettle, expressing excitement about exploring Haitian culture and providing children with a unique cultural experience through art. The play's showing in Greensboro was part of Creative Greensboro's broader programming, which included a range of performances, partnerships, and initiatives to support and promote the local creative community.

Creative Greensboro and Scrapmettle Blueprints partnered to present the play

Creative Greensboro, in partnership with Scrapmettle Blueprints, presented the children's play "Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree" by Greer Sucke. The play was performed at the Van Dyke Performance Space at the Greensboro Cultural Center, with audience members registering in advance on the Creative Greensboro website.

"Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree" is an adaptation of Haitian folklore, consisting of two short plays. The first, "Why the Sun Still Shines," tells the story of a wicked werewolf plotting to steal the sun and plunge the world into darkness. The second, "This Way or That?", follows a young traveller named Bouki who angers the God of the Crossroads and must outwit dangerous obstacles on his journey. The play features shape-changing magicians, elephants, and a two-headed dragon, offering an exciting exploration of Haitian culture and folklore for the whole family to enjoy.

Creative Greensboro has a long-standing commitment to providing children with opportunities to explore the world of theatre. Their programs emphasise the creative process, empowering children to approach art and life with confidence. Similarly, Scrapmettle Entertainment, a Greensboro-based network of writers, directors, and performing artists, aims to reveal the human experience beneath the surface and use it as a learning tool through realistic scenes on stage.

The partnership between Creative Greensboro and Scrapmettle Blueprints in presenting "Don't Sleep Under the Mapou Tree" combined their shared passion for using art as a tool for exploration and learning. The play provided a unique opportunity for children to engage with Haitian culture through storytelling, costumes, set design, and language, allowing them to stretch their talents and broaden their perspectives simultaneously.

Frequently asked questions