New York Public Libraries

Journey to the West at the Queens International Library


- Adding the Buddhist Monk, Zwang Zang to the Story -


Journey to the West with multi-instrumentalist Jeff Greene added the interplay and struggle between the Buddhist monk, Zwangzang, and the superhero Sun Wu Kong.



                                                                         Photo by Patricia Benabe


Comments about the Performance:


“In Diane's intriguing one-woman performance of Journey to the West, she not only narrates the story, but acts out the various characters, giving each of them a "voice" of their own. As people left, many stopped to tell me how great the show was and how much they enjoyed it!  I recommend this to all libraries and theatres - all communities will enjoy this unique and fun adaptation of this classic Chinese epic.“ 

  1. -Gina Fazio, Program Director, Queens International Resource Library


“Monkey King is an epic, full of drama and magic, but it is also a hugely entertaining story. There are gods and goddesses, and ogres whose dining habits are both reprehensible and spectacular. And then, there is more: a deeply spiritual search for the Buddhist scriptures in the course of which selfish desire and a naive yearning for enlightenment often clash. Drama is blended with comic episodes as this sumptuous story fills the stage. Without digital images, or projector, or any of the usual trappings, the audience is offered the most vivid reality, and time passes with amazing speed. The result is a rich and satisfying evening at the theater.“      

  1. -Olivier Bernier, Lecturer, Metropolitan Museum of Art



                                                                        Photo by Patricia Benabe


Diane and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Greene, who provided beautiful accompaniment for the performance, take questions from the audience:



                                                                 Photo by Jean Hale


Suyeon Kim put together a 2-minute video montage that gives you a feeling of the venue, the audience and the performance. See it at: Interactive Journalism.

 
 
 

Monkey King Takes Manhattan...and the Bronx! Throughout the month of March, Diane gave intimate performances of Journey to the West at New York Public Libraries. From preschoolers to teenagers, library audiences are enthralled by the Superhero who waves his Compliant Rod, pulls out one of his 84,000 hairs and can become as large as the universe and as small as a hair on his wrist.

 

March 2009 Tour of New York Public Libraries