"TALES OF THE ECHO" (Synopsis) 

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The musical “ Tales of the Echo” is based on traditional Japanese otogibanashi folk tales. Conceived and written by Sawako Ariyoshi (1931-1984), one of Japan’s leading female writers. She was moved to write a musical of her own after witnessing the popularity of Japanese productions of American musicals all over Japan.  She wanted “Tales of the Echo,” to incorporate Japanese folk tales as a medium for commentary on current Japanese society.  She accomplished this by utilizing the traditional Ariyoshi style in the book. 

Tales of the Echo borrows from native Japanese folk and children’s tales and is told using only ten (10) actors to play from five (5) to ten (10) roles each, rotating people from young and old, horse traders, fishermen, creatures like dogs, monkeys, turtles, rabbits, horses, fleas and demons.  The choreography consists of mimicking the movements and gestures, as well as the stereotypical characteristics of these roles. 

The Story opens with a little girl playing with her voice as it echoes through the forest.  She is saying “hello” and listening to the echoes repeating her words.  Being pure of heart the innocent little girl is befriended by the echoes, who no adult can see.  They become fast friends, and the echoes begin to tell the little girl all about the various folk tales.  The echoes then become the characters of the folk tales as they act out the various stories.  This continues throughout the play until the girl eventually returns as an adult and tells her childhood friends that she is no longer able to play with them.  The echoes become heart broken, as the play comes to an end with the word “sayonara” echoing through the woods.