Pushcart Players: Cuentos A Bi-Lingual Musical Play (Esta es una Obra Musical Bilingu¨e)

“Cuentos Del Arbol” or “Tree Tales” is a delightful bi-lingual musical drawn from Spanish and Latin American folklore. The play is designed to bring Spanish to “life” for students studying the language; and to make theatre accessible for students, parents and grandparents for whom English is a second language. Because the play is presented in a bi-lingual format, it provides literacy enhancement in both language and the arts. The stories within the piece offer pride in the cultural heritage of Spain and Latin America while also providing access to the arts and arts education without a language barrier.

The centerpiece of all the stories is a tree (Un Arbol) that has sheltered, shielded and nurtured countless characters that have passed her way over the years. The tree’s caretaker, Arbolita, shares four of these stories with Tomas, a storyteller, who is looking for tales for his collection.

The stories included are “The Garden of the Golden Oranges,” adapted from a Spanish legend, told in the oral tradition; “Brothers Who Were Both Wise and Foolish,” a grand adventure, also set in Spain; “Juan Bobo” or “Silly John” originating in both Mexico and Puerto Rico about a boy who makes silly mistakes that serve him well; and “Caperucita Roja” or “Red Riding Hood” a perennial favorite in Spanish and English households, told with a Latino beat and rhythm. A spirited finale sends audiences home with dancing feet, clapping hands and a happy heart.

“Cuentos. . .” is indeed filled with a fiesta of Latino and Hispanic themes, indigenous to locale, but universal to the human experience. The range of ideas for discussion includes many value clarification and strength of character issues. Young audiences will be enchanted by the colorful lore and spirited beat that enable Arbol to lift her branches and find new ways to grow each day.