Adventures of a Samurai sword

A sword with magical powers that grants you even your wildest wishes, caters to your every whim and fancy and can guarantee you a lifetime of wealth and happiness…or can it? This is the question we must all ask ourselves at the end of Mind Adventure's latest production directed by Tracy Holsinger, Geoffrey Case's Samurai.

An ancient Japanese city is crumbling; there is no food, its people are dying on the streets in hunger. Then, in a sudden stroke of luck, a magical sword that grants you anything you desire is presented to this city by a mysterious hero; a young boy who has travelled bravely and encountered many challenges to bring this Golden Samurai Sword to those that need it.

The citizens vow to use the sword to get their city back on its feet and then, in a year, return it, so that others can benefit from it as they have. The city flourishes; the crops grow, the rain falls, and the impoverished people of the city start to live happy, comfortable lives.

However, their needs quickly go from being simple to complex, humble to extravagant. At the end of the year, they are all fat, rich and utterly lazy; the sword does all their work for them, even their thinking! But when the boy returns to fulfil his promise and take away the sword, chaos reigns as four bumbling citizens, driven by sheer greed, plot to stop the boy from honouring his duty. Ultimately, even they are surprised by just how far they will go to keep their wealth and luxury.

Samurai is on one hand, a hilarious comedy about what happens when people that can barely think for themselves are faced with an ordeal that requires them to travel through thick forests and duel with others. On the other hand, it speaks strongly about several themes that are both timely and universal, primarily the subject of greed, and how even the best of us, are not entirely above it.

Mind Adventures Theatre Co., following the success of their production of Enda Walsh's Chatroom, staged last February and July, is launching a series of Youth Theatre productions this year, beginning with Samurai. The production which will feature a young cast, can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Mind Adventures (and the name says it all) perseveres steadfastly in staging fringe theatre in novel and interesting ways, in new and unusual venues. They boast a repertoire that has produced several key alternative theatre productions over the years in several unique locations ranging from gardens to nightclubs. The other thing worth noting about Mind Adventures is that they are constantly trying to stage plays that give a commentary on very important social issues.

While with plays like Death and the Maiden and Chatroom they brought several important topics to the table, in plays like Fefu and her Friends and Ubu Rex, several radically new, experimental forms of staging were used.

Similarly, Samurai will venture into brand new territory. It will be staged on a traditional Japanese Noh stage, and will incorporate many traditional Japanese theatre disciplines and staging conventions. Moving away from the gritty realism achieved in Chatroom, mime, movement and physicality will take the centre stage in Samurai.

It will be performed on a stage that is almost completely bare, in keeping with the style of traditional Japanese theatre, leaving the authentic costumes and elaborate make up to come into prominence. Mind Adventures promises its audience an evening of laugh-out-loud humour, fat citizens, evil villains, valiant heroes and cunning plots, underneath all of which lies a story that simply must be told.

You can be a part of Mind Adventures' latest, most exciting adventure to date. Samurai will run from the March 25 – 30, 2008, and will be held in the British Council Garden. Tickets, priced at a flat rate of Rs. 500/=, will be available at the gate on the days of the performances. Call 0777742390 or 0772828877 for booking details.