The Little Prince. Script, music and lyrics by Judith Clingan, adapted from the novel by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Directed by Judith Clingan and Rohan Vicars. Wayfarers Australia. Tuggeranong Arts Centre. December 20 at 7pm, December 21 and 22 at 2pm. trybooking.com/STMQ.
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Judith Clingan says Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's 1943 novella The Little Prince "touches on that little bit of ourselves that doesn't get corrupted as we grow up."
The book, narrated by a pilot whose plane has crashed in the Sahara Desert, tells the story of his encounter with a boy he calls The Little Prince who comes from another planet. The boy tells of his adventures in space and on Earth, providing the adult with a fresh perspective on life.
It's this appeal to the young and innocent side in all of us that Clingan thinks accounts for much of the much-translated story's enduring appeal to children and adults, both as a book and in a variety of adaptations across many media including live action and animated film, television, ballet, and opera.
Clingan has created her own musical theatre adaptation of The Little Prince, writing the script, lyrics and music for a new version that was performed internationally last year by her company Wayfarers Australia. It's a group of about 30 performers ranging in age from nine to 70-something who toured Taiwan, Iceland, Ireland, Switzerland, France, England, and also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe.
"Everybody loved it," she says.
This 75-minute production - which will be performed in Canberra ans then go on tour in Australia with mostly the same cast as last year's tour - combines actors with puppets representing the characters of the Fox, the Rose and the Snake.
Siggy Nock, who plays the title role, is 13 and comes from Tasmania.
"Last year he was 12. the perfect age," Clingan says.
"He still has a high voice even though he's grown."
Melbourne actor Rohan Vicars plays the pilot and is also co-directing with Clingan, drawing on his experience in physical theatre. Clingan says most of the cast is young and about half of them are from Canberra.
The production originated in Canberra in January last year but has developed substantially since then. For this season Clingan has written a couple of new songs, Life Is, a solo for the Rose and Baobab, a group dance number.
She says The Little Prince, despite its fantastic elements, "is not a meaningless story": it's about such things as providing life with direction and meaning, and rediscovering lost youth and innocence even in the face of tragedy and disappointment.
"Life can be like that."
