Vasilisa the Beautiful

 

Vasilisa the Beautiful Fie, fie! I smell Russian blood! -Baba Yaga the Forest Witch

 

Vasilisa the Beautiful In the deep dark forests of the Russian skazka tales, many small children are said to have been eaten by the forest witch Baba Yaga. A fearful sight, Baba Yaga was identified by children as an old hag with a long nose and sharp teeth. Living in the darkest parts of the forest, she made her home in a house made of human remains. This hut, standing on chicken legs, rotated throughout the day and the night. To see Baba Yaga meant certain death for most. More certain, however, was a great test of courage, manners and conduct in her presence. Children who did not have these strengths often ended up becoming additions to the bone fence surrounding her yard! Only those children who showed the truest compassion and courage would pass through to their greater destiny, a place found beyond Baba Yaga’s hut. Suggested Texts: An Introduction to the Russian Folktale, Jack V. Haney 1999 M.E. Sharpe New York, NY Russian Fairy Tales, Aleksandr Afanasen 1945 Pantheon Books (currently published by Random House) The Cabiri are John Murphy, Charly Barker & Catherine Holmes with Corybante dancers Al Billings, Michael Bjorkegren, Corie Brooke, George Howard & Melissa Lilly. Narration by Raymond M. Irvin. Scenic painting by Si Issler. Music by Carold Nelson of The Let's Dance! House Band & Constantin Parvulescu of Ensemble Sub Masa. The Cabiri are the theatrical emissaries for The Anunnaki Project, a multidisciplinary 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to promote awareness of cultures and folklore that have passed into antiquity. See www.anunnaki.org for more information. Contact The Cabiri 206-609-3212 B info@cabiri.org B www.cabiri.org