Children's tales from around the world

A musical quartet featuring a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster whose screechy repertoire is so discordant, they startle a team of human bandits into abandoning their loot; a deer mouse so cunning she drives out a conquering army of tigers by convincing them the long, sharp quill of a porcupine is the intimidating whisker of her raja; a flock of birds who save themselves from the hungry tricks of a fox and a wolf with the tickle of a feather: These were some of the characters from global folk traditions that graced the stage of the Falls Village Children’s Theater (FVCT) at the Center on Main last weekend. 

“My kids love this podcast called ‘Circle Round,’ which shares folktales from all over the world,” said “Folk Tails” director Amber Cameron of what inspired her to choose the script. Cameron, who choreographs for productions throughout the Northwest Corner and recently started Blue Studio Dance in Lakeville, wanted to bring global voices to Falls Village's children in her second FVCT play.

The actors began the production of “Folk Tails” as themselves — local children with tales to tell but not tails, reminding us that storytellers are the ones who pass history, humor, entertainment and lessons down through the centuries. 

They soon transformed into tailed characters from Indonesia and Germany. A colorfully painted map of the world hung behind them with stars highlighting the locations where the stories and music of the performance originated. The children made the backdrop themselves with the help of local artist Jaimie Sadeh. 

The youths also wrote part of the script themselves, performing characters they chose and words they wrote. “We believe creativity isn’t just what’s happening on the stage but everything behind it as well,” said “Folk Tails” musical director Brook Martinez.

Music was interspersed between the tales, including an American song that used cups for percussion and another from Brazil that involved jumping over moving bamboo rods. “Each song incorporated an element of play, movement and fun,” said Martinez.

Martinez is also the creative administrator for the storied, stained-glass, high-ceilinged Center on Main, which houses the FVCT. “We want to serve our town as a beacon of community creativity, a hub for us to gather that fosters the joy of being together in creative ways.”