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"The Yellow Boat" Helps
Children Understand Tough Issues Play Deals with Death, Dying and
AIDS
Atlanta - The Playmakers of Oglethorpe
University will present "The Yellow Boat," by David Saar, February
7-9. Based on the true story of the playwright's son Benjamin, the
play charts an unusual subject for children's theatre - death and
dying. A hemophiliac, Benjamin Saar contracted the HIV virus from a
blood transfusion when he was 4 years old, ultimately succumbing to
AIDS at the age of 8. The play deals plainly with Benjamin's
illness, and with his realization of his own mortality.
"It marks a slight departure from our traditional repertoire, " says
production director Troy Dwyer. "In the past we've focused a great
deal on fairy tale plays since there's such a richness of good,
accessible texts in this vein. But "The Yellow Boat" is nudging us
in a different direction this year. Rather than fixating on the
grief and the shame associated with death, Saar explores the joy of
life and the power of familial love. We think it's an amazing play
that every kid should see!"
For the past 10 years, Oglethorpe University Theatre has sponsored
an annual charity production benefiting the Atlanta Children's
Shelter. Over a few days each season, almost 1,000 area elementary
school students, many of whom have never seen live theatre before,
flock to the Conant Performing Arts Center for an event that has
become a traditional staple in Atlanta's theatre-for-youth scene.
"Troy and I have decided to infuse the production with movement in
order to underscore its themes of playfulness and vitality," says
choreographer Jeremy Teissére. "We think that this choice will
ground the piece in a body-centered, life-affirming way. My hope is
that the audience will come away from the production with a renewed
sense of the physical joys of the body."
"The Yellow Boat" performs for elementary school audiences on
Thursday, February 7th and Friday, February 8th at 10:00 a.m. If
you'd like to reserve tickets for an elementary school class, please
call Lee Knippenberg for information at 404-364-8343. (These morning
matinee performances are open only to groups of schoolchildren and
teachers, and feature a specially discounted group rate.)
Public performances run Friday, February 8th at 7:00 p.m., and
Saturday, February 9th at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $3.00
per person (adult or child) and free for Oglethorpe University
students, faculty, staff, and their families.
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