On Saturday, March 22, students from the School of Performing Arts put on an entertaining and humorous version of “Baba Yaga and the Black Sunflower” at 2 p.m. in the Al Cyrus Pavilion Theatre.
The play was written and directed by Carol Korty, who has worked in theater faculties at UMass Amherst, Boston University and Emerson College. She has written multiple plays for children in her years as a playwright.
Korty said she hopes the play captured the essence of a traditional Baba Yaga folktale and also the feeling that she and other children had of living in two different worlds between family at home and friends at school.
Baba Yaga is a Russian folktale character. She is a knowledgeable yet feared witch who some people say eats children and others say is helpful, not harmful. Maryushka, one of the main characters, is a young girl who likes to explore and sometimes gets into trouble. She tries using Baba Yaga’s magical black sunflower to help her out of her latest mishap.
Maryushka runs into Baba Yaga in the process, and must deal with her in order to fix her problem. Maryushka is not sure what to think of Baba Yaga, due to the various rumors she’s heard.
The townspeople think Maryushka is trouble because of her playfulness and the fact that that she is an orphan, and they want her out of town. Because of this, she also struggles with finding her place in society.
The play shows how Maryushka uses her cleverness and wit to solve her latest problem, and in the process, she learns more about the true Baba Yaga.
Over spring break, the cast of “Baba Yaga and the Black Sunflower” performed 10 shows at schools around the area, including in Bangor, Ellsworth, Hermon, Lincoln and Presque Isle.
Second-year communications sciences and disorders student Megan Rounds played Maryushka with a youthful energy and spirit.
First-year music education student Victoria Guiliani played the title character Baba Yaga and Starukha, or one of the townspeople. Guiliani made Baba Yaga a layered character, who appeared frightening at first, but seemed to have more layers to her than initially thought.
Fourth-year psychology and theater student Sydney Walker played Granny and Izbushka, the walking and talking house of Baba Yaga. Walker did a great job giving the house a sassy attitude and humor, which the audience enjoyed.
There were six cast members who played all the roles in the play. The actors did a good job changing quickly and being convincing in each role they were playing.
The costumes and music helped enhance the actor’s performances and make the play come alive.
Lots of children were in the audience to see the kid-friendly folktale. The theatre was filled with a sense of wonder and excitement from the children’s energy. The kids, and the adults in the audience alike, were all engrossed in the performance.
The play ran for about an hour. The original play is longer, but they cut it down for the school performances over spring break. After the show, Korty held a question and answer session with the cast members, and the audience and children got a chance to ask what they wanted and see inside Baba Yaga’s house.
Korty, the cast, and crew all did a wonderful job giving this Russian folktale so much excitement and life.