Little Prince takes stage in Triangle

Former French students and fans of children's literature alike, your time at the theater has come.

Just in time for the holidays, the PlayMakers Repertory Company at UNC is producing the classic children's tale, The Little Prince, as adapted by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar.

This production of The Little Prince marks director Tom Quaintance's second go with the play, having directed it in Edinburgh this past summer. Also this past summer, he worked with PlayMakers, directing Oliver! The production was the capstone of the first Summer Youth Conservatory, a collaboration between PlayMakers and Carrboro's The ArtsCenter.

"The Little Prince is a fantastic journey through the stars for children. I have vivid childhood memories of my sister reading the book out loud in both English and French. It is a map for adults to rediscover their childhood," Quaintance said in a press release. "In the Prince's travels, we see the isolated and disconnected nature of the adult world. It's a study of the mind set that only cares for numbers and statistics and misses what is of real consequence."

Read to children and used in beginning French classes everywhere, The Little Prince has become a classic around the world. Written by French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 1943, the book tells the story of a stranded aviator and his encounter with a human-like alien from an asteroid. Though classified as children's literature, the story's themes are ageless, and the book is often cited for its poignant observations on human nature and the process of aging.

The set, designed by McKay Coble, marries childhood imagery with a more sophisticated theatrical design. Because the story is set in the Sahara Desert, the stage is covered in sand and incorporates a variety of lighting to create different moods.

Even the costume design is unique. One of the characters, The Fox, consists of a large mask protruding from the actor's head in a unique anamorphic example of stage costuming.

PlayMakers is also hosting a variety of additional events in conjunction with this production. The North Carolina Psychoanalytic Society is hosting a 50-minute discussion on emotion and characters in the play on Dec. 15 and 16, with audience participation encouraged. On the Dec. 5 and 9 shows, there will be post-show discussions with the dramaturg, the repertory consultant. Lastly, the Dec. 4 and 11 productions will include special holiday pre- and post-show performances by the Trekky Yuletide Orchestra, an amalgamation of musicians from Chapel Hill-based indie record label Trekky Records. Tickets are not required for the Trekky Yuletide Orchestra or discussions with the dramaturg.