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The Rabbits That Caused
All The Trouble
There
are those who may always be held responsible, over and over, for the sins of
the world . . . “continuously and for ever more”.
So, in
the James Thurber fable by the same title, from his book:
Fables For Our Time, this too
happened, once upon a time…
The
wolves threatened to civilize the rabbits (for their many sins), if they
didn’t behave, and the rabbits decided to move to a desert island.
However, the other animals who lived very far away said: “You must stay
where you are and be brave. This world is not for escapists. If the wolves
attack you, we will come to your aid and for that you can be sure.”
At
some point, to make this wonderful and unfortunately always timely and
allegorical fable short, the rabbits ended up in the wolves’ stomachs and
the excuse they gave to the other animals, that were demonstrating and
filing complaints with the United Nations, was: “They tried to escape and
this world is not for runaways.”
This
fable was the starting point for the performance given by the Iraklion
School of Arts, which is housed at the old American base, at the Iraklion
Theater Station.
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The
composite theater act featured text scripted by: Antonis Thiamantis, Tonia
Kalohristianaki, Maria Saritsami and Maria Kalouthioti; dances choreographed
by: Maria Kalaitzaki, Reni Papathaki-Ploumithou and Youli Hatzaki;
traditional dances by: Spyros Stivaktakis; Video projection by Nikos
Tsagarakis and Rena Skouroyianni (Crete TV); Posters-programs created by the
school’s students and also Elena Pavlitsenko, Manolis Sarithakis and Kyriaki
Fotiathou; Music and musical training by Linda Athanasopoulou; lighting by
Antonis Thiamantis and Maria Kalouthioti; sets by Manolis Sarithakis and
Voula Plevri; costumes by the entire team, and direction by Maria
Kalouthioti.
The
result of this performance, (in which by the way most of the school
participated), charmed, surprised, moved and gave a thought to ponder with
its special manner of approach and timeless issue, that of racism.
I will
stand on the question asked from all of us from the stage amongst all the
onstage fanfare, which was:
“So,
what do we do now? And when will the world change?”
Upon leaving the theatre, I became sure that this world
can change, as I began to realize
what I always believed: that art, many times, if approached with a clear
heart and mind, will give the most ideal answers-solutions to many problems
. . . it gives you hope that the little boat of humanity will fight through
the roughest seas and strongest winds to arrive safe and sound at a far away
place.
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