after the quake
By Haruki Murakami. Adapted for the stage by Frank Galati
October 13-23
The Cultch
The Cultch presents Pi Theatre and Rumble Productions hit production of after the quake, directed by Craig Hall and Richard Wolfe.
In 1995, a disastrous earthquake hit Kobe, Japan and the Tokyo subway was hit by deadly poison gas attacks. after the quake is based on bestselling author Haruki Murakami’s stories about life in the wake of disaster. Click here for more information about Murakami.
after the quake takes its audience on a journey where magic and realism collide, in an exploration of disrupted reality. Junpei is a timid writer who enchants Sayoko, the love of his life, by conjuring up stories to soothe the anguish of her young daughter Sala, a girl who is having nightmares of the Earthquake Man. A talking bear makes the very best honey pies, and Katagiri, a bank loans officer, struggles to distinguish between what is real and what is not when six-foot Frog asks for help to fight off giant Worm for the future of Tokyo. Together, these stories explore the emotional aftershocks of disaster, and offer a message of hope and healing.
The Cultch 1895 Venables Street, Vancouver, BC Box office: (604) 251-1363.
“after the quake” show times:
Oct13-16 & 19-23: 8PM
Oct 16, 23: 2PM
Oct 17: 4PM
Post-show talk-back on Oct 16 (matinee), Oct 17 & Oct 19
Sept 28: 7PM - Special event showing of Japanese Anime in the Vancity Culture Lab admission by donation.
Two for One tickets October 14!
Cast:
Sayoko/Nurse: Manami Hara
Narrator/Frog: Alessandro Juliani (Battlestar Galactica’s Gaeta)
Takatsuki/Katagiri: Hiro Kanagawa
Junpei: Tetsuro Shigematsu
Sala: Leina Dueck
Set Design by Yvan Morissette | Lighting Design by Itai Erdal | Costume Design by Sheila White | Sound Design by Yota Kobayashi | Stage Management by David (DK) Kerr | Production Management by James Foy | Illustration by Edward Kwong | Photography by Ken Bryant | Community Liaison Naomi Hori
Photos from the 2009 production of “after the quake”: (all photos by Ken Bryant)
Pi Theatre would like to thank The Leon and Thea Koerner Foundation, Word on the Street Festival, National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre, Geist Magazine, The Powell Street Festival, The Bulletin, the Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall, and the National Association of Japanese Canadians, for their support of this production.
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“Wildly original and warm without ever lapsing into sentimentality, after the quake is both a great ride and a testament to the healing powers of imagination…It’s the stuff of dreams.”
Kathleen Oliver,Georgia Straight
“I’ve never seen anything like it. And I loved every minute of it…Playful. That’s what after the quake is. And charming. A feast for the eyes and ears. Mischievous. Tender. Heart-stoppingly romantic as the curtain falls on Junpei keeping watch over Sayoko and Sala.”
Jo Ledingham, Vancouver Courier
“after the quake is an absolute delight…deservedly the hit of the late fall season.”
Jerry Wasserman, Vancouver Plays
after the quake is a stunning piece of theatre. It is rare to experience a show where all these elements integrate so well and are so delicious to watch…A delicate feast for the senses…exquisite…Subtle, tender, and beautiful. I loved it, go see it.
Rachel Scott,Plank Magazine
“after the quake bursts the clouds and reminds me exactly why I love theatre so deeply. This is a perfectly balanced play. You should see after the quake”
Simon Ogden,The Next Stage
“I hadn’t been to a play in a really long time. As in I can’t even remember the last time I saw living, breathing actors on stage in front of me instead of projected, cold onto a screen. The experience is so different, I had forgotten what a thrill live theatre can be. Especially good live theatre. But after the quake isn’t just good live theatre–it’s excellent, delicate, surreal, hilarious, and thought-provoking. It makes me want to go see more plays in this city. All in all, this is a production that Murakami himself, I’m sure, would deem as worthwhile of his book.”
Jake Tobin Garrett,BeyondRobson.com
“The show is a must-see for anyone feeling that need to reach out, looking for a connection with some one. And fans of Murakami will feel like they’re experiencing his work for the first time while watching after the quake. Which is quite the treat, indeed.”
Trevor Record, Ubyssey
“I urge you to see after the quake … after all, honestly if a regular jane like me can be so enthusiastic about the play, then it’s definitely accessible to your videogame-hollywoodblockbuster-realitytelevision mind.”
Tamiko Ogura, schemamag.ca
“For the first time, I felt as though a part of me was being expressed on stage… This was also the first time I sensed a feeling of intimacy with the rest of the audience. I didn’t really speak with anyone other than the friend I went with, but the seating at Studio 16, as well as the delivery of the narration, made me feel like we were gathered around to be told a story, as opposed to being seated to watch a show. This coziness was an added bonus given the weather we’ve been having.”
Larry Hoser, dosomethingdifferentbc
“All the performers—most in multiple roles—are superb…And what a delight—in a city as densely populated with Asian Canadians as this one—to finally see a critical mass of said citizens represented on our stages.”
Peter Dickinson, Performance Place and Politics
“One of the best plays I’ve seen this year.”