Homeschooling Michigan Blog

The Crane Maiden at PuppetART
25 East Grand River Ave.
Detroit MI 48226
313-961-7777
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2008
April 5, 12, 19, 2008
“The Crane Maiden” - Based on the ancient Japanese folktale of a poor but honest young man who saves the life of a wounded crane. The crane turns out to be a young beautiful woman with whom he falls in love. Out of gratitude, the crane maiden bestows upon him a fabric woven from crane feathers, which becomes a source of temptation in the hands of his rich and corrupt merchant neighbor. Tempting the young man to sell the fabric, the merchant makes him break the promise that he made to the girl. As a result, she becomes a crane again and flies away. Representing Good and Evil are two spirits, who, battling for the soul of the young man, interfere in his life and even change his destiny. These spirits are played by live actors in traditional Japanese costumes and masks, who literally manipulate the main characters, string puppets known as marionettes.