Written by: Mustafa-ur-Rehman
Posted on: July 08, 2019 | 
| 中文
The actors performing
On a bright Sunday evening in Lahore, One Thousand Cranes was put together by the Olomopolo Media team at the iconic Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore. Directed by Kanwal Khoosat and Iram Sana and adapted by Vicky Zhuang Yi-Yin who also composed the music, the play was a part of the closing of the OLO Summer Camp '19 - Into The Cosmos. All the actors were the children from the summer camp who showed off the lessons and techniques they had learned during the classes.
The story revolves around Sadako Sasaki, a young Japanese girl living in 1950s Japan in the aftermath of the tragic Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings. The play gets its title from an ancient Japanese tale about an emperor who folded one thousand origami cranes in order to make a wish come true. The thousand cranes are usually considered as an emblem of hope and healing, particularly in dark and troubled times.
One Thousand Cranes explores Sadako’s early years growing up in a traditional family as well as her relationships with the people around her. Portrayed as an energetic and lively character, she is also deeply connected to her past. Sadako is extremely attached to one of her ancestors, and constantly seeks her guidance in times of trouble. At the age of twelve, Sadako is diagnosed with leukemia and sets out to complete one thousand folded cranes, but falls short at around 664. She wished for her health to be restored, so that she could achieve her goal.
The play also sheds light on a crucial aspect of war and conflict: the affected children. These children suffer immense emotional, mental and physical pain despite having no part to play in the events of war. Sadako and her paper cranes offer these very children an opportunity for self expression within these dark times.
Sadako’s message of hope, love and peace, remained at the very core of the entire effort. The closing, which included the audience’s participation by waving paper cranes in the air, provided a wonderful closing, reinforcing the message of peace. And her story will continue to uplift and inspire countless people across the globe, starting with the student-actors themselves.
Cranes also sheds light on key themes revolving around family, culture and tradition in quite a heartwarming manner. It was refreshing to see a play being performed in its entirety by young fresh faces, and that too without microphones. The soft background score ensured that events on the stage received the full attention of the audience. The wardrobe, dominated by bright robes, ensured that an air of authenticity was lent to the recreation of 1950s Japan on the stage, while ensuring that the actors held the complete attention of the audience throughout the performance.
The audience itself played a rather important role in the situation. Mostly comprising of young parents and their children, rounds of applause followed the end of every scene. This would have undoubtedly led to a boost in confidence for the young cast. As a viewer, it was deeply moving to see a large crowd so attentive to a play performed by children on a Sunday evening.
Finally, the children themselves proved to be the real stars of the show. It was a pleasant surprise to see some very strong performances from a cast entirely composed of children. Barring the occasional hiccup, the play had many strong performances throughout its duration. This can be attributed to the simple yet well-coordinated choreography delivered effectively by the cast. These children must be praised for displaying a high level of confidence and calm in the spotlight.
A note of appreciation must be added for Olomopolo Media, who are not only trying to mold the future of performing arts in Pakistan, but are giving very young children the opportunity to step into the spotlight and showcase their talents in front of a packed auditorium.
One Thousand Cranes proved to be an excellent effort of interactive performance and storytelling by these up-and-coming thespians. One would hope that more of such efforts are made in the future which encourage young talent and stories which give us hope in dark times.
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