In 1956, French filmmaker Albert Lamorisse cast his young son, Pascal, in a whimsical 35-minute film about a boy who discovers a magical red balloon that becomes his constant companion.
The balloon follows the boy home and waits for him outside the window of his family’s apartment. It also follows him to school and church. Eventually the magical balloon is noticed by a group of neighborhood bullies who attempt to steal it and then destroy it.
“Le Ballon Rouge” was a hit in France, and then in the United Kingdom and the United States under the title “The Red Balloon.” It is to date the only short film to win the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Honolulu gets to see Lamorisse’s story told as live theater this month courtesy of playwright/director Annie Cusick Wood and Honolulu Theatre for Youth.
‘THE RED BALLOON’
Presented by Honolulu Theatre for Youth
>> Where: Tenney Theatre, Cathedral of St. Andrew
>> When: Opens 7 p.m. Friday; continues 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 and 27; sensory- friendly/ASL performance at 11 a.m. Jan. 27
>> Cost: $10-$20
>> Info: 839-9885, htyweb.org
Wood’s show opens tonight at Tenney Theatre with HTY company actor Christina Uyeno as Pascal.
“As soon as I got the green light, I immediately bagged Tina for Pascal,” Wood said last week, explaining that it’s become standard for a woman to play Pascal when the story is presented onstage. HTY cast members Junior Tesoro, Maile Holck and Matthew Mazzella play five or six characters each.
“I’m really lucky with this company. They’re all beautiful movers,” Wood continued. “I have a choreographer on the show as well, and we’ve been able to pull all these skills from the company. It’s very fluid.”
HTY Artistic Director Eric Johnson describes the show as “a beautiful piece of theater.”
“It’s visually stunning with lush music and really fun theatrical ideas onstage,” Johnson said. “It’s a serious piece of art — for kids — in the same way that the movie was this beautiful piece of French art cinema that happened to be for kids.”
AT A GLANCE
>> What it’s about: A lonely boy’s experiences when he is befriended by a magical red balloon.
>> Morals and messages: Friendships can be wonderful things. There are times when “outsiders” come to the aid of those in need.
>> Parental advisory: Nothing to worry about.
>> Kid-pleaser aspects: A sensitive and mischievous balloon, and the clowning and comedy that take place between the balloon and Pascal. Also, a newly written musical score composed by multi-Hoku Award winner Pierre Grill, and the choreography.
>> Age recommendation: 5 and older.
>> Run time: 50 minutes, no intermission.
