Stories Connect Us All: The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories at Children's Theatre Company

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories is on stage at the Children's Theatre Company until February 18. We talked to Writer and Director, Reiko Ho, about the inspiration for the stories, creating content for children, and how the lessons imparted can inspire audiences of all ages – we all need to persevere to swim up life’s waterfalls!

Q:  We’re so excited about The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories now on stage at the Children's Theatre Company. Does your work focus exclusively in writing and directing plays for children? What do you find most rewarding about working in children's theatre? 

Reiko HoA:  We are so excited to be sharing this play with children and families in Minneapolis! My focus of my Master’s Degree was Theatre for Youth; however, I do work for many different sectors, not just for children. Last season, I created and directed an original show about the Asian-American experience with students from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa. I also directed the regional premiere of Lloyd Suh’s The Chinese Lady in Florida, and then directed its Hawaiʻi premiere last June.

Creating and directing for young people has always been a focus and passion. I believe we make change by serving our youth. It is a great honor, delight, and responsibility knowing that one of my TYA shows might be the very first show that a child ever sees. I love making theatre that is rooted in joy and inspires empathy. Stories connect us all.

Q:  What inspired you when creating The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories? 

A:  The Carp Who Would Not Quit is inspired by my own childhood memories and fondness for the Japanese folktales I read as a child. I thought of my own family and great-grandmother, who was a picture bride sent to work the plantations in Hawaiʻi, while I was creating the piece. There are also many Japanese theatrical conventions and original music used for the storytelling and the amazing cast was instrumental while creating the production. I could not have created the show without them.

Q:  Can you share a bit about your creative process when developing a play? 

A:  My creative process always starts with the story itself. For me, finding the heart of the story is always most important. Theatre is the art of the human heart. The way the storytelling unfolds should be organic to the story or text. I love using movement, music, design, lights, and what the actors bring, to help breathe life into a story.

Q:  Does your work typically focus on Asian or Asian-American theater and themes? 

A:  My work does often focus on Asian and Asian-American theater and themes because of my own Asian ancestry. However, I am a passionate advocate for giving voice to stories that reflect the diverse community of my island home including stories by marginalized groups like the LGBTQ community, indigenous Hawaiian stories, or stories by women. I think representation on-stage (and off) is so important.

Many times, I find myself creating content, because there is none that reflects that particular voice, especially for TYA.  

Q:  Is this a touring production? If yes, where has it been staged before Minneapolis?

A:  Yes, this is a touring production commissioned by Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY). The cast and I are all full-time resident artists at HTY. This past September, the team started by touring the different Hawaiian Islands, then began a 14-venue tour of the continental US that took the team across the country from the Smith Performing Arts Center in Las Vegas to theaters big and small, finally ending in Atlanta in mid-November.

Q:  What advice do you have for aspiring playwrights and directors interested in creating content for children? 

A:  Finding your own voice and being authentic is so important when creating any content, but especially content for children. They recognize truth. Growing up in Hawaiʻi taught me that even difficult truths can be shared if done with aloha—love. Always create with aloha.

Q:  I searched for you in LinkedIn. Are you the same Reiko Ho who owns Red Lotus Hawaii in Honolulu? If so, please tell us more about your martial arts expertise. 

A: Yes, that’s me! I am a 4th degree black-belt and master in Hapkido, a Korean martial art. I owned my own dojo called Red Lotus Hawaii for 13 years before shutting the doors in the pandemic. Being a martial artist colors many aspects of my artistic life. I am always striving for excellence and treat every space as a dojo, a learning space. Like the koi in The Carp Who Would Not Quit, I find that the perseverance and dedication I learned while training, helps me swim up life’s waterfalls.