It’s a story common to a number of cultures: Two people on an important journey encounter some “nobodies” along the way. One of the travelers is nice to the “nobodies” even though it means delaying the journey; the other brushes them off and continues on. When the travelers reach their destination — spoiler alert — it’s the nice one who’s rewarded.
Hawaii Theatre’s upcoming production of “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters,” written by John Steptoe and adapted for the Hawaii Theatre Center youth theater program by Eden Lee Murray, sets the story in sub-Saharan Africa — two young women, Manyara and Nyasha, leave their village and travel separately to “the big city” where the ruler is seeking a wife.
“I read the story and fell in love with this African adaptation of ‘Cinderella,’” Murray said. “When Nyoka, the little snake who’s watched Nyasha grow up, reveals himself to be the Prince and says that he was also all of the characters the girls encountered in the jungle — the starving boy, the old lady, the man with his head under his arm — we are reminded of the Christian lesson, ‘In so much as you have done to these, you have done to me.’ Powerful message.”
‘MUFARO’S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS’
>> Run dates: 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. March 5
>> Where: Hawaii Theatre, 1130 Bethel St.
>> Admission: $7 ($2 for age 4-17)
>> Length of play: 55 minutes
>> Intermission: No
>> Age recommendation: Pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, although there are lines and references that will amuse adults.
>> What it’s about: Two young African women travel to their nation’s capital with hopes of marrying the prince.
>> Morals and messages: Sometimes it’s a good idea to be nice to people even if they can’t do anything for you. Good deeds are sometimes rewarded in unexpected ways. Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you. What goes around comes around.
>> Parental advisory: There’s nothing to worry about.
>> Kid-pleaser aspects: The music, the drumming, the dancing and seeing the underdog win
>> Play adapter Eden Lee Murray: “I think kids always like to see the good guys win. While older sister Manyara knows how to manipulate and fool her father, the kids will get that the younger sister, Nyasha, is the one with the true heart and sincere intentions. The fact that her goodness is rewarded in the end through the magic of the piece, I think will appeal to kids, who generally have a strong sense of justice.”
>> Info: 528-0506 or hawaiitheatre.com
