AYN: The Enchanted Flute by Paper Monkey Theatre

My father’s childhood stories always exude a carefree vibe. He shared how his kakis (local slang for Buddies) in the neighbourhood would drop their bags at home right after school and before their parents could get them to sit, they would have already gathered in the streets to play a round of goli (glass marble game) or catch spiders. The kind of play in the past involved a lot of imagination  because living conditions were poor. If they needed a toy gun, they would pick a twig off the ground. Do you know how that smelly blanket can be a very good substitute for a cape if they wanted to play Hero?

My children find fun in ready toys and electronic gadgets. Not that I am pro-kampong-living but I can see the stark difference between imaginative play and being a slave to toys. Wait. Maybe I am pro-kampong-living. For as long as possible, I put off the use of gadgets and television. I was told, “Let them watch TV for goodness sake! You are depriving them of fun! They can learn about the trees and birds from cartoons you know?” I replied with conviction that the best way to teach them about trees is to show them what a real tree is like - touching it, smelling it, looking at it - and it can still be fun (maybe more!). Did we lose something along the way? It seems like our children have lost the desire to discover, build and innovate.

When I found out about Paper Monkey Theatre’s collaboration with the National Arts Council to put up a puppetry show through Arts in Your Neighhourhood, I was thrilled! I was elated not about the fact that it costs me nothing to bring my children out for a theatrical play but about the programme itself! The Enchanted Flute will be held at a playground in the park! Imagine. Actors and a live trio band will be staging a play for their audience to tell a story of long long time ago.

Inspired by Pied Piper, the story line will include relatable characters like Sang Nila Utama. What better opportunity to introduce our Asian roots to our children than through an interactive skit? The story reads: “A ship arrived into Singapura docking at a Malay Village. What came along in the ship was most unwelcomed - rats!” How will the story unfold? I had the privilege to meet with the Artistic Director of Paper Monkey Theatre, Benjamin Ho, for a catch up. He will not let the story end without some kind of fantasy woven into it. Expect a lot of imagination. Although the Ship playground at West Coast Park seems like the perfect stage to put up this performance, Benjamin thought otherwise.

He said,

“If we had it staged on the Ship itself, how then will the children imagine?”

Benjamin aims to bring out the curiosity of each child from the staging to the props. He had chosen the web climber at the playground for the act, giving it more room for imagination. Each child can then conjure up their own ship - a pirate ship, a Noah’s Ark, a junk boat or a Viking ship! The props used will be made with household items in hopes to inspire children to find fun in things that are easily available at home. Think dustpans, mops, scrubbers and bottle caps!

When I asked him about the moral of this theatrical performance, he shared that it is hard to outwardly indicate the morals because every child takes something different out of a story. How true is that. What do you think your children will take home from this play?

Let us remember to instill Freedom, Imagination and most importantly, Fun in our parenting styles. They only have one go at childhood and it all lies in the hands of their parents to make it memorable. It also lies in our hands as parents to understand that the hunger to explore and discover will lead to the making of a great man.

Come join Paper Monkey Theatre as they unveil the story of The Enchanted Flute on 19 November 2016 (4pm & 6pm) at West Coast Park (Playground near Carpark 3) and on 26 November 2016 (4pm & 6pm) at Pasir Ris Park (Playground near Carpark E).

Besides the play, there will be bundles of fun as families bond over hands-on craft activities with their children to create their own finger puppets. There will also be a roving music performance by a saxaphonist who doubles up as a balloon sculpturist. Look forward to playing with giant bubbles by a bubblelogist, picnic with free popcorns and balloons while you are there. While picnic mats will be provided, families are encouraged to bring their own mats as well. Fringe activities start from 3pm and 5pm respectively.

This is just one out of the more than 40 entertaining, fun and interactive performances and activities which residents in neighbourhoods will enjoy in the November edition of Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN), presented by the National Arts Council (NAC), taking place soon from 12-27 November. There will be great music, theatre, dance and multi-disciplinary performances, as well as art installations, music, art and photographic tours.  

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