By Christina Carrick
The Man Who Planted Trees, performing at the Nelke Theater at the Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center in Provo, Utah, is a timeless tale for all ages. The moral of the production can best be summed up with the immortal words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” The touring Puppet State Theater company has returned to BYU this weekend only to deliver their critical and inspiring tale. The show is based on an allegorical short story of the same name, originally written in French by author Jean Giono. It was adapted for the stage in 2006 by Richard Medrington and Rick Conte with stage and puppets designed by Ailie Cohen. The group has performed it at least 1600 times since 2006 and continues to plant seeds of inspiration as they tour the world relating the tale of Elziard Bouffier, the Man Who Planted Trees.
Medrington and Conte have great stage chemistry and a natural knack for engaging storytelling. The two puppeteers masterfully weave humor and levity into a script with a great message. The pair keeps each production fresh by allowing for a certain amount of improvisation in each show. They are very aware of the audience and play off the reactions of those attending. In the opening night performance, for example, there was a hilarious bit between the dog puppet, played by Conte, and the main character Jean, played by Medrington. The children in the theater were practically in stitches, so Conte stretched the bit as long as he could to keep the children laughing.
Medrington does most of the actual storytelling playing the part of Jean who is travelling through a desolate and depraved part of pre-WWI France. He occasionally speaks in French when conversing with the non-speaking puppet character Elzeard Bouffier. He uses language, voice cadence, and movement to draw even the youngest audience members into the tale. When he tells it, the story feels fresh and unrehearsed in the best possible way. He is clearly telling the story from his heart, and the effect leaves a lasting impression on those who hear it.
Conte appeals to the children in the audience, and the inner child in all of us, with his natural sense for terrific humor. Before the storytelling begins, Conte plays “Dog” in a short comedy bit that sets the tone for the evening. You know as soon as you see Dog pop up in any scene to be prepared to smile. Without his comedic interventions, the story might be lost on some of the younger audience members.
One of the most engaging parts of the show is their creativity in making it a “4D” experience. Though the set appears simplistic, you can count on smelling the lavender and mint fields, breathing in the fresh morning dew, and even getting caught in a light rain drizzle. Cohen’s designs are simple but incredibly effective in enhancing the story. She easily and seamlessly takes the stage from a desolate wasteland, to a budding forest, to a terrifying scene under a Nazi regime, to its ultimate glory as a kind of French Eden. The music does as much to set the stage as the props and the lighting is adjusted to create the appropriate moods. Her puppets are excellently constructed and provide the perfect medium for conveying this particular story to children and adults.
The show is intended for audiences ages four and above and runs about one hour long. Though it is a family show, there were many adults attending on date nights or without children who enjoyed the production just as immensely. One man commented that he cried three times and will definitely be back to see it again. Medrington and Cohen are gracious enough to stay after the show for about ten minutes to do a Q&A session. I highly recommend you stay and ask a question. My five-year-old was able to ask how the dog puppet worked and got an up-close view of her favorite character, Dog.
BYU’s The Man Who Planted Trees is a beautiful tale, reminding each of us that we can choose each day to do something to make our world more beautiful and that the effects of our good choices can be enjoyed long after earthly sojourn.
BYU Nelke Theater, Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center Presents The Man Who Planted Trees by The Puppet State Theatre Company
Nelke Theater, Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center, 800 E Campus Dr, Provo, UT 84602
January 24-26, 2019, 1:30 PM, 6:00 PM, 1:30 PM only on Saturday
Tickets: $15.00
I loved this show! It was great for kids since it was only an hour long. The set is beautiful and the actors were wonderful. If you haven’t seen the animated movie, you should definitely check it out!