BLUE MOOSE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
The Warrior and The Princess
Review Highlights
"This is a fable, a fantasy, a flight of fancy, based on a true story."
"The Warrior and The Princess" is a tribute to true courage. Inspired by the selfless act of Chiune Sugihara, who with his wife, Yukiko was responsible for saving the lives of over 6000 Jewish refugees during the early years of World War 2. "The Warrior and The Princess" is a highly theatrical fictionalised account of those events blending puppetry, shadow play, live performance and live music.
"The Warrior and The Princess" was originally supported by The Blue Room Theatre and STAGES the WA Playwright's Consortium
Written by Shirley Van Sanden the play was nominated for a 2013 Australian Writer's Guild (AWGIE) Award
Brian Liau was nominated for a 2014 Performaing Arts WA (PAWA) Award for his role in the play.
2012 The Blue Room Theatre: Director Monica Main; Puppet Comstruction and Design Shirley Van Sanden; Lighting Design Joe Lui. Featuring Brian Liau, Rhoda Lopez, Ian Toyne, Monica Main and Shirley Van Sanden. Live Music, Marty Laing
2013 in Partnership with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre for the Fremantle Festival:Director Monica Main; Puppet Comstruction and Design Shirley Van Sanden; Lighting Design Joe Lui. Featuring Brian Liau, Laura Djanegara, Ian Toyne, Monica Main and Shirley Van Sanden. Live Music, Marty Laing
2014 Stage Door Performance Space:Director Monica Main; Puppet Comstruction and Design Shirley Van Sanden; Lighting Design Paula Coops & Ian Toyne. Featuring Brian Liau, Rhoda Lopez, Ian Toyne, Monica Main and Shirley Van Sanden. Live Music, Mark Turton.
Image: Rhoda Lopez and Brian Liau, photographer Heidi Baile
REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS
The Blue Room Theatre, 2012
“Shirley Van Sanden resists the tendency of many dramatists to conflate fact with poetic license in the manner of romanticized blockbuster films. Inspired by the history of Chiune and Yukiko Sugihara, who with their German assistant Wolfgang Gudze were responsible for saving an estimated 6000 Jewish refugees during the Second World War, her determinedly fictional story reflects the timelessness of the conundrums faced by those wielding even limited power, and the temptations to ignore the shared humanity of those in peril. “
Nerida Dickinson, ArtsHub, Australia 10/10/2012 ****
“Liau was consistently likeable as Yoshida, both as a young man full of enthusiasm and an old man regretting his years. His interactions with Lopez were believable, and strengthened the outcome of events. Lopez played the distressed, traumatized orphan without over-acting in an impressive show of dramatic restraint. Main clearly enjoyed playing her main role as the efficient Johanna, and Toyne’s Jakub was thoroughly avuncular. Mention must also be made of the puppet characters, which were not only enjoyable as visual creations, but also for the admirable coordination with which the teams of actors manipulated and interacted with them.”
Nerida Dickinson, ArtsHub, Australia 10/10/2012 ****
“The highlight of the performance was Marty Laing’s musical section and performance. His keyboard performance was a delight, carrying the story onwards even when actors were frozen in tableaux. A close second was the clever use of the overhead projector behind the Japanese style screens that were the main part of the set. From establishing statements for each act, to basic scene setting with images, to minor works of art that reinforced the emotional intensity of the scenes, this was an inspired piece of design. Poignant motifs of birds and kendo patterns helped weave various plot points and concepts together into a unified whole.”
Nerida Dickinson, ArtsHub, Australia 10/10/2012 ****
“A fascinating story, presenting in spellbinding fashion, The Warrior and The Princess brings a message from the past for those with ear to hear.”
Nerida Dickinson, ArtsHub, Australia 10/10/2012 ****
“This tale could have been more of ‘the same old story’, but talented writer Shirley Van Sanden has interwoven several fascinating story threads. There is the tragic background tale based on true events, with several well-observed characters and plenty of humour to give the whole performance a sparkle.”
Gordon the Optom, Theatre Australia 03/10/2012
“The actors had to play several characters, often with different accents, age and character but despite the fast pace the whole performance flowed beautifully. There is a particularly fine performance by Rhoda (Lopez) as the young girl, struck dumb by the trauma.”
Gordon the Optom, Theatre Australia 03/10/2012
“Under the directorship f Monica Main, the performance is slick, exciting and fascinating. The blending of the genres worked superbly. This is not a gruesome tale, but one that will be understood and enjoyed by children from 12 upwards.”
Gordon the Optom, Theatre Australia 03/10/2012
“The Warrior and The Princess is The Blue Room Theatre’s latest offering and I had a chance to go and see it last week…And boy it did not disappoint. “
Jelena Maticevic,We Love Perth, 11/10/2012
“The play cuts back and forth across countries and time which could potentially be confusing in a stage production, but the actors switch from role to role remarkably quickly, and the projected puppetry adds a really delightful element, working wonderfully in keeping you on track. Whilst only a very small part of the play, I really enjoyed the simulated scenery during the train journeys. Another beautiful aspect is the live piano accompaniment by Marty Laing.”
Jelena Maticevic,We Love Perth, 11/10/2012
“Shirley Van Sanden has taken the story of Chiune Sugihara, the Japapnese diplomat who saved thousands of Jews in World War II Lituuania and fashioned an inventively told and moving tale of universal human sympathy and courage.”
David Zampatti, The West Australlian, 9/10/2012
“Credit should go to Liau and Lopez, whho inhabit their characters with energy and feeling, and to the strong supporting cast of Iann Toyne and Monica Main (who also directs the multi-disciplined production with skill) and Van Sanden herself.”
David Zampatti, The West Australlian, 9/10/2012
“Marty Laing’s keyboard accompaniment, with snatches of themes from Beethoven to Take Me Out to the Ball Game, is cleverly conceived and complimentary throughout.”
David Zampatti, The West Australlian, 9/10/2012
The Fremantle Festival, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, 2013
“The Warrior and The Princess” beautifully written by Shirley Van Sanden, is a delightful and fascinating play being presented by Blue Moose Theatre productions in partnership with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre. This 70-minutes play, which is based on the true story of Chiune Sugihara, was nominated this year for a prestigious AWGIE Award.”
Gordon the Optom, Theatre Australia, 30/10/2013
“This unusual, innovative play that points out the dangers of stereotyping people of one religion or nationality is a delightful family show.”
Gordon the Optom, Theatre Australia, 30/10/2013
“The Warrior and The Princess tackles the concept of injustices against all persons, including Germans, hated due to nationality or circumstances. The Playwright and cast present a contemporary approach to Holocaust education – offering a broad framework and promoting understanding in order to fight fear and narrow-mindedness which led to hatred, violence and destruction.”
Rabbi Sheryl Nosan-Lantzke, The Maccabean, 15/11/2013
“The story of The Warrior and The Princess is told with an elegant simplicity; with the audience guided through vignettes of Japanese diplomat Kiyoshi Yoshida’s life and his attempts to save Jewish refugees in a Lithuania threatened by invasion from both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union”
Simon Clark, The Au Review, 30/10/20113
“The quality of the acting throughout was high, with a great ensemble performance from the whole cast. Theere was a believalbe chemistry between them all, which lent added credence to their character's relationships. Indeed some of the play’s funniest moments came courtesy of Yoshida’s secretary, played by Monica Main, and her interactions with Yoshida and his fellow diplomat.”
Simon Clark, The Au Review, 4/11/20113
“The Warrior and The Princess is a fantastic production, with some great performances from the whole cast. But at the end of the day it is simply an engaging and poignant story; a story that perhaps needs to be heard now more than ever.”
Simon Clark, The Au Review, 30/10/20113
“While the story is gripping and indeed inspiring, the uniqueness of this production is the seamless integration of puppetry, shadow play and live piano accompaniment with live action.”
Shreeja Rajan, Colosoul, 3/11/2013
“Brian Liau, playing Yoshida, is brilliant in his portrayal of a deeply conflicted man who struggles with his duty and doing what is morally right. The humour is chiefly provided by Yoshida’s assistant, played by the excellent Monica Main. Ian Toyne and Laura Djanegara, both essaying multiple characters, as well as doubling as puppeteers, put in strong performances.”
Shreeja Rajan, Colosoul, 3/11/2013
Fundraiser Shows for New York, Stage Door Performance Space, 2014
“’The Boss is always right’. A phrase repeated throughout this play about Jewish refugees stranded in Lithuania during the Second World War and the Japanese diplomat who helped save thousands of them. Based on a true story, writer Shirley Van Sanden has crafted what the cast announce at the very beginning is a ‘fable and a fairytale’ and it is presented as such with various storytelling devices.”
Richard Hyde, Perth Theatre Reviews, 1/6/2014
“…a key component is the keyboard work of Mark Turton who adds mood and atmosphere throughout. One impressive sequence is the communiques between Yoshida and Tokyo which is a combination of keyboard effects, puppetry and the use of origami. Creative and telling.”
Richard Hyde, Perth Theatre Reviews, 1/6/2014
“This is a mix of creaive elements that shines a light on a little known story that celebrates the ability of a person to affect the lives of literally thousands by choosing to do the right thing at great personal risk in a time of horror and war.”
Richard Hyde, Perth Theatre Reviews, 1/6/2014
The New York Internaational Fringe Festival 2014
"The Warrior and the Princess is a delightful show put together by a highly skilled ensemble that plays multiple characters, creates and works puppets, directs light and sound. Shirley Van Sanden has written a beautiful script while piano, costumes and sound effects are perfect. The multi-talented Monica Main, Mark Turton, Rhoda Lopez, Ian Toyne, Brian Liau and the crew create more theater enchantment in one hour plus than many companies do in three times that." Wendy Coyle, nytheatre now
"Among the inventive and endearing puppets used by this creative troupe, an inflexible boss and a very frisky dog are standouts. There is also great beauty and delicacy to their use of shadow play. The total effect is both moving and exhilarating. This is what theatre should be but rarely is." Markk Savitt; Hi Drama
