NASREDDİN HOCA
Puppet Theater for Young and Old

Director:Işıl Kasapoğlu
Stage and Puppet Design: Karina Cheres
Cast: Sibel Altan, Fatih Dönmez, Serkan Keskin, Nurgül Uluç

Saturday, May 3, 2003, 11:00 am  
Amity School
2727 Coney Island Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11235
(718) 891-6100

Sunday, May 4, 2003, 11:00 am   
Pioneer Academy of Science
366 Clifton Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 772-8848

Sunday, May 4, 2003, 5:00 pm   
The Turkish Center
821 United Nations Plaza, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-9148

Puppets and a cast of four talented young stars of the Turkish stage will unite under the direction of renowned director Işıl Kasapoğlu for this brilliant production of the tales of Nasreddin Hoca.

Nasreddin Hoca, a character that has survived in the oral tradition of cultures across the Balkans, Middle East, and North Africa for almost nine centuries, is celebrated throughout the world for his charming irreverence, wit, wisdom, and humor. Said to have lived in the Anatolian town of Akşehir in the thirteenth century, he is credited with tales, or fıkralar as they are called in Turkish, which delight both young and old. Just one example, among hundreds, is the charming tale of Duck Soup summarized below:

On his return from the country, a kinsman brought Nasreddin Hoca a duck. The Hoca was grateful and asked his wife to prepare a soup that he could share with his thoughtful guest. The next day a visitor arrived and said that he was a friend of the man who had brought the duck. This went on for days, with everyone claiming to somehow be a friend of the original donor of the bird. Days later, an exasperated Nasreddin Hoca answered the door for yet another visitor. It was an out-of-towner claiming to be a “friend of the friend of the friend of the man who brought the duck.” Nasreddin Hoca invited him in and after a short time asked his wife for some soup for their guest. When the guest tasted it, he realized that it was little more than warm water and asked what sort of soup it was. To this Nasreddin Hoca replied, “That, is the soup of the soup of the soup of the soup of the duck.”

Nasreddin Hoca has been an unlimited source of inspiration for those working in the arts, but has until recently remained a traditional form of entertainment, carried on largely through storytelling. Işıl Kasapoğlu’s award-winning play brings the beloved folk hero-cum-philosopher to life through puppet theater, with over fifty colorful hand, string and shadow puppets that represent Nasreddin Hoca and friends. The puppets will also be joined by four young actors who will take the stage and tell tales ensured to delight and entertain. The play’s stage and puppet design by Karina Cheres received rave reviews throughout the world. The play has been presented in over 500 performances in cities and festivals across Europe and the Moon and Stars Project is delighted to present the first stateside performances of this must-see production. Make sure to join us for an unforgettable performance (or two), and be sure to bring your family and friends.