Veranstaltungen (DE) Lübeck – 19.12.07 bis 20.12.07

The Fir Tree

The Fir Tree (Der Tannenbaum in englischer Sprache)

18:00 Uhr (19.Dez. auch 11:30 Uhr)

im Figurentheater Lübeck, Kolk 20-22,23552 Lübeck Tel.: 0451-70060;Eintritt: 5,00 Euro

The fir tree -

Hans Christian Andersen

Duration 45 min.

Types of puppets used shadows

Kind of audience Children in primary schools

(age 4)

â??Out in the woods stood such a pretty little fir tree. It grew in a good place, where it had plenty of sun and plenty of fresh air. Around it stood many tall comrades, both fir trees and pines.

But the little fir tree only had one wish: He wanted to grow tall as fast as possible. It took no pleasure in the sunshine, nor in the birds. The glowing clouds, that sailed overhead at sunrise and sunset, meant nothing to it.â??

"Oh," said the little mice, "how lucky you have been, you old fir tree!"

â??Lucky?â?? asked the tree, and he thought about all the things he had told them. â??Indeed, actually they were lucky times.â??

Andersenâ??s story tells of the life of a fir tree that can only look to the future and dream of what might come, instead of enjoying the beauty and wonder surrounding him.

The fairy tale advocates a life in the here-and-now and valuing what you have, not what you could have. It also reminds us that time passes and that we should not waste what time we have in always looking to the horizon and losing sight of where we are.

This production really is for the whole family as the message is important for children and parents alike. The end of the tale is not truly tragic but it does give pause for thought. Just as with Andersenâ??s steadfast tin soldier, who also ends his life in flames, we feel pity but somehow happy in the knowledge that the fir tree has lived a life rich in experience.

And this makes us reflect on moments of happiness in our lives.

A short moment of rest in a hectic age.

We believe in these fast-paced times of ours, with our desires and needs dictated and altered almost every hour by the powers of commerce and advertising, that it is important to tell stories which remind us to stop occasionally and ask ourselves: What do I have? What do I want? What do I need?

Perfect at Christmas time, as this is the season of Christmas trees and Advent has lost most of its spirituality in favour of shopping-stress, the message is valid the whole year round.