THEATRE: Evergreen puppetry

Many things have been said about Man and his best friend. The tale gets an eco twist on stage soon, writes Subhadra Devan

THE famous story of a shepherd, Elzeard Bouffier, who set off with his dog to grow a forest in a once-barren area of the French Alps will be brought to life in Kuala Lumpur.

Performed by puppet masters Richard Medrington and Rick Conte, The Man Who Planted Trees has become a best-selling Edinburgh Fringe Festival show of comedy, puppetry and inspiring storytelling.

The show is based on Jean Giono’s story, which was first published in Vogue in 1954.

It has inspired many environmentalists including Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, whose Greenbelt Movement has been responsible for planting over 30 million trees in Africa.

In the 55-minute stage show to be held at Actor’s Studio Bangsar, Medrington narrates while Conte lends his voice to the puppet called Dog.

Says 52-year-old Medrington: “It is a wonderfully simple story about a man who sees that the place where he lives is dying for lack of trees and decides to ‘put things right’.

“It shows what great things can be achieved by one person’s small actions over a long period of time, and that a life lived in this way can be a happy and fulfilling one.

“The story was originally published with the title The Man Who Planted Hope And Reaped Happiness.”

In an e-mail discussion from the US, Medrington feels the show is popular because “people like the fact that it is a meaningful story, but one that is both moving and funny”.

“It makes them think and laugh and sometimes cry.

“The show is just as much for adults and teenagers as it is for children.”

Medrington started out in puppetry through street theatre and “a family connection with a traditional German puppet maker”.

“I started doing one-man puppet shows back in 1984, at first working mainly in schools and churches. I began working with Rick about five years ago and our current technique of mixing puppetry with storytelling and comedy has evolved since then.”

Conte, 42, says he first did puppet shows as a child with his mum who was a librarian and storyteller.

“When I moved to Edinburgh from Georgia (in the US) in the late 1980s, I was playing in a band as a drummer. I got a job working for the Edinburgh Puppet Company. Things developed from there.”

The puppet dog plays a major role in this production (www.puppetstate.com).

When asked if the dog puppet gets more laughs than Medrington, he replies: “Let’s get this straight. In Rick Conte’s hands, the Dog gets ALL the laughs. As the ‘straight man’ narrator of the tale, I am resigned to it!”

Medrington says the dog is a “muppet-style” puppet, made mostly of hessian and leather by puppeteer-designer Ailie Cohen. “How she put such a soul in him we will never know.”

He recalls that the troupe’s most memorable show was in Galway, Ireland.

“There was a great mixture of adults and children who were very responsive and totally involved. After the show, they were effusive in their compliments.

“In the foyer as I was receiving the accolades, a small boy tugged at my sleeve and said in a wonderful Irish accent, ‘I didn’t like that show at all’.

“I asked him if he had at least liked the dog. ‘No, I didn’t like the dog. I didn’t like anything about it.’

“Rick offered him a poster by way of compensation. ‘I don’t want a poster. Why would I want a poster? I didn’t like the show. My sister liked it and my mother liked it but I didn’t like it AT ALL!’ Which only goes to show that in some people’s eyes, even your best show just ain’t good enough.”

He thinks the show will appeal to Asians because the themes are universal even though the story is based in France. “I’m sure they resonate with people whatever their religion or background.

“It’s about the importance of trees but it also shows how by simple, selfless dedication one person can make a big difference.

“In the words of Anne Frank (who we quote in our show programme)” ‘How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.’”





Catch The Man Who Planted Trees on Oct 7-9 (Thurs, Fri at 10am & Sat & Sun at 11am, 2pm) at Actor’s Studio Bangsar, KL. The Oct 11 show is sign-interpreted. The Gardner & Wife Theatre presentation is recommended for adults and children aged seven and above (though most fives and sixes love it too). Tickets: RM42/RM53/RM64. Call 03-20940400/1400 or visit www.gardnerandwife.com for online specials.



The Julia Gabriel Centre for Learning has sponsored the Oct 12 show at 11am. Tickets are half-priced.