How to make it sound silly: it's a school play about morality, and it costs $25 for tickets. Some of the actors are in first grade. It's a story that nearly no one in the US has read, much less heard of.
What it really is: one of the best-produced plays you will see outside of professional theater. The costumes are more elaborate than most "real" productions. The wide variety of musical styles (from traditional Indian to funk) fit together with the story. The little kids playing the forest creatures in one scene are awwww-inspiring. The high school kids in the main roles are incredibly talented, with some amazing singing voices. They actually cover the epic in a bit less than four hours with a reasonable sense of pace and importance. The kids really do learn useful moral values while prepping for the play.
It's only one weekend a year, but if you live in the 831 area code (and possibly in 408) and like good theater, remember to look out for the production next year around this time.
Posted by lookit at June 14, 2004 02:38 PM