Aesop's Fables & a Giveaway!

Have you read about the story of The Hare and the Tortoise?  I bet you did!  It is that famous and popular that one can find many adaptations of it as well as the fact that it was told and retold in many different languages .  But do you know that it is one of Aesop's Fables?  Yes?  No?

So who is Aesop and what are fables?  In short, Aesop's Fables is a collection of short stories which authorship is credited to a man named Aesop, who is believed to have lived from 620 to 560 B.C.  So now we know these fables date back a long way!

However long, it's great that we are still able to read about them and the impressive thing about fables is  that they illustrate the stories with a particular moral, teaching both the young… and the old.  

I won a pair of tickets from a giveaway and bought an additional ticket so that both the boys will be able to watch Aesop's Fables.    
Presented by I Theatre, some of these fables are presented in the form of plays and I feel that it is a great way as kids learn and understand easily through catchy songs, puppetry and fun.

We usually reach the venue early for photo-taking, getting the boys into the "mood" and should there be any activities, they can have a try if they wish to.

I don't get such smiles often.  :)  

I Theatre started giving out handouts regarding the play about 30 minutes before the doors open and what I like are the synopsis (kids tend to ask many questions before the show and I was able to let them know bits and pieces about what to expect), biography of the cast and team behind the scene and the activity sheets.  

E showing off his handout happily

Finding a place to flip through what's inside the handout

Can we do the activity now?!

8 stories in total, The Fox and the Crow, The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs, The North Wind and The Sun, The Lion and the Mouse to name a few.  Each told in their own way, making kids laugh out loud, adults smiling and clapping, not a single doze-off to be seen.  That's how good they are.  :)

Presenting the very talented and entertaining Crowfoot Troupe, who sings, dances, and presents all 8 stories within 50 minutes in a very engaging way.

Photo credit: I Theatre

At times silly, at times humorous and at times dramatic.  That's why our eyes were glued to the stage, our hands ever ready for a clap and E laughed so hard I secretly wished I had recorded him laughing (no photography and videography please!). 

Photo credit: I Theatre

Every story ended with a related moral and for The Fox and the Crow, it was "do not trust flatterers".

Photo credit: I Theatre

The use of masks, simple costumes, interesting props (spoiler:  use of onions instead of golden eggs.  Haha!) by the skilled actors made all stories easy to understand and relate to.

Photo credit: I Theatre

Stay back after the performance for a photo session with the lovely cast who are always ready for a smile!  

I know the boys enjoyed when I see the smiles on their faces.  And when D asked, "why so fast?!", I know he wished that the play did not end.  

Aesop's Fables is currently running till 21 March 2015 at Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel.  Tickets can be bought online through Sistic.  

Go watch it before it ends!  I am sure you will be as tickled as we are, and at the same time, bringing home both old and newfound morals to discuss and think about.

Thank you for joining the giveaway.

I am pleased to announce a giveaway of 1 pair of tickets to Aesop's Fables for 21 March 2014, 2.30pm.

To enter:

1. Leave a comment in this blog post or the corresponding Facebook post and share why you should win these tickets.

Giveaway ends 11 March 2015, 8pm.

Please note:

- Winner will be chosen at random

- Tickets are not exchangeable for cash or for other showtimes.  The 2 tickets are for 21 March 2014, 2.30pm.

- As the play takes place in Singapore, the giveaway is open to Singapore residents only.

- Winner will be announced on blog, Facebook and notified by email.  Please respond within 48 hours, failing which, a new winner will be chosen.  

Good Luck!