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Big fish in a little pond

Children make up the cast of Strawmen and Sparrows. PHOTO: COURTESY OF NTCH

Huang Chun-ming (黃春明), who published his first story in 1956 and has since established himself as a major proponent of Taiwan's "nativist literature movement" (鄉土文學), will lead a production of Strawmen and Sparrows (稻草人與小麻雀), which opens tonight at the National Theater in Taipei.

In this production, based on a script written by Huang in 1993, the main characters are sparrows. These mischievous little birds prey on the rice fields of an old farmer, a role played by Huang himself. To stop the sparrows eating his crop, the farmer puts out 10 scarecrows. The sparrows convince the scarecrows that they are actually useful, saying that while they do feed on crops, they also eat insects that damage the crops. The scarecrows, convinced by this argument, proceed to act as an early warning system for the sparrows, alerting them when the farmer approaches.

Huang's work has always shown a strong sense of Taiwanese identity. As a child of rural Taiwan, Huang - who wrote, directs and performs in this play - has been lauded for his portrayal of the joys and many sorrows of Taiwan's Everyman, and for his sharp ear for the local vernacular. But it is his humanism that ensures his longevity.

Children make up the cast of Strawmen and Sparrows. PHOTO: COURTESY OF NTCH

As an early proponent of environ-mental issues in Taiwan, it's no surprise that Huang's most recent theater production offers more than just entertainment value, but is also a cheerful meditation on the relationship between humans and the natural world. This concern for community and nature provides depth that makes his dramas entertaining for adults as well as children.

Performance notes What: Strawmen and Sparrows (稻草人與小麻雀) When: Today and tomorrow 7:30pm; tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm Where: National Theater, Taipei City Tickets: NT$400 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing

The actors in the play are part of Huang's Big Fish Children's Theater (黃大魚兒童劇團), which is currently based in the director's home county of Ilan. The group is different from most other children's groups in that it is children, rather than adults, performing for children. The production has a cast of over 30 singers and dancers, including the Lan Yang Dancers (蘭陽舞蹈團).

Though best known as a novelist, Huang has gravitated toward children's literature in later life. His most famous story, Erzi de Dawan'ou (兒子的大玩偶), was adapted by director Hou Hsiao-hsien (侯孝賢) for the 1983 film The Sandwich Men.
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