Once upon a time…those four words have taken each of us on countless adventures into the land of fairy tales and imagination. Toronto’s CORPUS company and Japan’s KIO company are here to take us on another journey, one which blends the two cultures in an examination of two animals frequently found in their respective fairy tales: the wolf and the crane. Written and directed by CORPUS’s artistic director David Danzon, Mukashi, Mukashi is ready to take audience members of all ages on an adventure through stories both familiar and new.

Mukashi, Mukashi, which is Japanese for “once upon a time,” is a telling and re-telling of “Little Red Riding Hood” as well as the Japanese tale “Tsuru Nyōbō” or “The Crane Wife.” Using several Japanese theatrical traditions and techniques to tell the stories, Mukashi, Mukashi gives unique and exciting perspectives to a familiar tale. There’s a “live” talk show where Grandma and Little Red are confronted by Mrs. Wolf, and a telling using performers as life-size puppets along with a Kabuki samurai as the woodsman who saves the day, just to describe a few. Then there’s the stories of the crane, which are elegantly performed using movement and dance. The play begins with four wolves howling at the full moon, and ends with four cranes flying in the light of that same full moon; a beautiful symmetry which perfectly encapsulates the heart of the production.

CORPUS and KIO have also done an incredible job at making the full experience tri-lingual (English, Japanese, and French). The play is spoken primarily in Japanese, with some English, and then there are English and French surtitles above the playing space. Even the land acknowledgement is given in all three languages. It’s impressive to see the idea of the blending of cultures permeate through so many aspects of the production, not just the work itself.

The ambiance which the design team has created for this production is entirely ethereal, the ideal environment for the telling of fairy tales. Yang Becker’s set and lighting design are the first design elements we encounter in the space. Three panels of a wall, decorated as if we’re in a forest of bamboo, are the only set pieces used throughout the production. Their simplicity allows them to be many things and many places, even a fireplace. Anika Johnson’s sound design ranges from eerily haunting as the wolves growl, to a peppy J-pop number to close out the talk show. The use of traditional Japanese music between scenes ties the piece together artfully. Atsuko Kiyokawa’s costumes are dazzling, showing everything from traditional to modern, Kawaī to menacing. A highlight is certainly the white kimono which is worn by the crane in “The Crane Wife,” it’s a stunning antithesis to the dark costumes the performers wear as a base, and as wolves, throughout.

In addition to the ambiance inside the theatre, there is an interactive exhibit in the gallery space outside of the Franco Boni Theatre which I highly recommend spending some time at before or after the show. There’s a tickle trunk with all kinds of costumes for dress up and photos, there’s a book nook with fairy tales of all kinds, a wall of Japanese art and masks which explains some of the theatrical techniques you’re about to witness, and a table with origami paper and instruction books so you can make your own crane or wolf like they do on stage!

There are just four performers bringing these fantastical worlds to life. Sakura Korin, Kohey Nakadachi, Takako Segawa, and Kaitlin Torrance give astounding performances, using their whole selves to relate their tales. Their physicality as the wolves is rigid and intimidating, while their cranes are fluid and gentle; their embodiment of these vastly different creatures is made evident throughout their entire bodies. Yet when they’re doing a parody or comedic skit, their joy shines through and elicits roars of laughter from the audience. Their passion for their craft is evident; this is storytelling at its finest.

Mukashi, Mukashi will make you feel like a child again, taking you on an adventure which spans the globe. This production is like theatre alchemy: taking the best parts of these two cultures and creating something truly unique and wonderful.

For more information and tickets, visit: Mukashi, Mukashi – The Theatre Centre

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Cover Photo: The Ensemble of Mukashi, Mukashi. Photo by Yoshikazu Inoue

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