Synetic Theater’s latest children’s show is an adaptation of an American Indian tale called “The Rough-Faced Girl.” Although the story exists in many tribes, adapter and director Elena Velasco chose the version used by the Micmaq Tribe of Canada and northern Maine. “In our telling of the story, there is a young girl who is raised by her older sister since their parents died when they were very young,” explained Velasco. “Because of their family situation, the older sister grew up faster than she should have and became very hard-hearted and cold. She gave a lot of inappropriate tasks to her younger sister.
“The younger girl was forced to tend to the fire at an age when she was not old enough to handle the job, for instance. As a result she has been scarred by fire and she receives no compassion from her sister or from society.”
| Onstage |
| ‘The Rough-Faced Girl’ |
| Where: Synetic Family Theater, 4041 Campbell Ave., Arlington |
| When: Through Dec. 28 |
| Info: $12 to $15; 800-494-8497; synetictheater.org |
Meanwhile, on the other side of the village, there is a handsome young man who is pursued by so many women that his sister, a shaman and who is very protective of her brother, makes him invisible until his true love, a woman of pure heart, can find him.
“This man is seen everywhere: the rainbow is the curve of his bow, in the stars you can see him in Orion’s belt,” said Velasco. “But although many women pursued him when he was visible, after he is made invisible, they can’t find him. Then along comes the Rough-Faced Girl. Although she feels unworthy, the boy’s older sister, being a shaman, recognizes her inner purity and helps her to find her real worth.
“She takes the Rough-Faced Girl to a lake and bathes her, transforming her, so that all her inner beauty becomes visible. Then the Rough-Faced Girl passes all the necessary tests, proving that she can see the young man in the rainbow and the stars.”
One reason Velasco was drawn to the story is that it’s not the usual Cinderella tale, where a man comes along and saves the girl. She has to find her own way. “Also, in Native American culture, family is so important,” explains Velasco. “In this myth, the older sister asks to be forgiven and the family stays connected.”
Like most Synetic productions, “The Rough-Faced Girl” is performed without words. “In some ways it’s more difficult to do a ‘silent’ show,” said Velasco, who teaches and directs at Synetic. “In other ways, it’s more freeing because words often limit the imagination, especially for children, because words have concrete meanings.
“But once you learn the Synetic language of physical storytelling, blended with music, mime, acrobatics and dance, you understand how to communicate without words.”
