Project Description

A Wonderfully Flat Thing is a one-act play based on the short story, A FABLE, by Mark twain. In synopsis the play is about a group of animals who look into a mirror for the first time and are each surprised that they see something different than the one who went before them. It will be performed by actor/dancer/puppeteers and musicians in a play suited to all ages. Produced by the 14^th St Y, a branch of the Educational Alliance, it will be one of the first productions mounted in their newly renovated theatre.

Using Mark Twain’s short story, A FABLE, as our starting point we aim to make A Wonderfully Flat Thing into a play can be read on many levels – for children it is an entertaining riddle, a romp on stage with surprising puppets. For adults it is a piece about self-reflection and how we interpret technology. The question of the play is encompassed by the Mark Twain’s moral “You can find in a text whatever you bring, if you stand between it and the mirror of your imagination.” We see this is as an important perspective in viewing art.

For the older members of our audience A Wonderfully Flat Thing’s outrageous puppet characters highlight certain political and social undercurrents in this play. Adults will recognize the analytical realist in the cool demeanor of the Donkey and the child dictator in the Elephant. Children will laugh at the gluttony of the snake and the vanity of the ostrich while identifying with our hero, The Cat’s, plight.

Mark Twain’s connection to the Educational Alliance’s Children’s Theatre has 100 year old roots. Created in 1903, it became a widely imitated model, thought to be civilizing instrument that could help build moral character by harnessing innate dramatic instincts in children of the day. At the Children’s theatre’s adaptation of THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER Twain became it’s Honorary Board President.

Today the work of the Educational Alliance is more prevalent throughout lower Manhattan than ever. Servicing over 30,000 people a year with programs that include preschool and after-school programs for children from low-income families to senior centers for isolated older adults, counseling and addiction recovery programs, and ambitious arts wellness programs. We look forward to adding A Wonderfully Flat Thing to the services and history of this organization.