CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Hundreds of shadow puppets are piled up in the Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building. The puppets share the ancient story of a Persian heroine — and a modern day tale of resilience.
“This is our first show in Chicago after the dramatic and traumatic robbery of our entire show in San Francisco,” said Hamid Rahmanian, the creator of “Song of the North.”
The U-Haul that carried the entire production, including nearly 500 handmade shadow puppets, was stolen in San Francisco last fall. What took Rahmanian and his team years to create was stolen in a matter of minutes. The truck was later found, and the show has since been rebuilt. This weekend, it takes the stage at the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival.
“It took us three months, nonstop, to actually rebuild part of the show,” said Rahmanian.
“Song of the North” is adapted from the “Book of Kings,” a national epic of Greater Iran written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi. The story tells the tale of Manijeh, a heroine from ancient Persia, who rescues her beloved, Bijan, and helps prevent a war. The production has around 500 puppets, 15 masks and uses 200 animated backgrounds. The mix-style puppet show allows audiences to view an old craft in a new way.
“I think shadow puppetry is the oldest form of performance,” Rahmanian explained, “Now we have different mediums, now we are doing the same things.”
The 80-minute production uses a variety of film-making techniques and is projected on a full-length movie screen.
“He combines these elements to create a very dynamic, visual palette that’s then supported with this compelling storyline,” said Blair Thomas, Founder and Artistic Director of the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival.
“Song of the North” is one of the few shadow puppet performances playing at the festival. The story, as well as the craft, is intrinsic to Persian culture. Rahmanian said the legends, myths, and customs written by Ferdowsi continue to impact his culture and are seen on the streets of Iran today. He hopes his adaptation, which centers around forgiveness, will leave audiences inspired.
“When you forgive, and you want good for others, the good comes back to you,” said Rahmanian.
As a highly acclaimed artist, the forgiveness Rahmanian has shown to those who hijacked his production has now come back tenfold. “Song of the North” will run Friday, January 19 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, January 20 at 1 pm and 5:30 pm. For more information on the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, click here.