A classic fairy tale has been sweeping the theatrical scene of Modern Greece. A new way of telling a folk tale that appeal to young and old is “To Sklavi” (son of a slave). The Theatrical Company of Elementary Educators of Arcadia presented this unique play from June 3 to June 13 in the late afternoon at the Apostolopoulio Culture Center of the City of Tripoli Greece. The play was written by Xenias Kalegeropoulou. It was honored with the Carolos Koun medal for 2000-2001.
“This is an enigmatic fairy tale,” explained the program. “For this reason it appeals to young and old. A Prince fell in love with the picture of a young woman. He went through many adventures to find the lady. His half-brother, Sklavi, born of a slave, helped him. There was an entanglement between all the young persons that awakens young love and brotherly devotion.” A fairy tale or myth hides a mysterious meaning. They help man understand the world and his place in it. Dragons, curses and unrequited love excited the audience. The hero, Sklavi, was told by the dragon that if he told the truth, he would be turned to marble. Greek dance music from Western Anatolia and the Greek islands added to the excitement of the production.
This is a folk art myth from the island of Symi. It is a classic fairy tale played in Greece. Dragon, princes, slaves makes it a colorful play with humor of another world that no longer exists. In the beginning of 1900, the tale was written for the first time in a common, in Rhodes and Kos. The tale has its roots in the Western Greek Anatolian culture or “Mikrasiatica” that existed at that time.
“To Sklavi” has been translated into Russian, French and Bulgarian. This fairy tale ought to be translated into English. It should be performed in a bilingual context in Greek and English outside of Greece.
Links:
http://voltastintripoli.blogspot.gr/2015/06/blog-post_35.html – provided by Christo Macarouni
http://www.amazon.com/sklavi-3c4-3bf-3c3-3ba-3bb-3b1-3b2-3af-kalogeropoulou-xenia/dp/9600417636 – To Sklavi by Xenia Kalogeropoulou
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2QaZrBl9FE – background on the fairy tale
https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9A%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%82_%CE%9A%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BD Karolos Koun award biography
https://plus.google.com/photos/113119187466714282240/albums/6160697248445095889?banner=pwa&sort=4 photo album
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