The Little Prince lands in aamchi Mumbai

From the heart of Broadway comes The Little Prince a grandscale adaptation of Antoine de SaintExupeacuteryrsquos classic 1943 novella a visually opulent production that has captivated global audiences since its debut at Parisrsquos Folies Bergegravere in 2019 Now itrsquos set to make its India debut at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre NMACC for a limited run this weekThe Little Prince transcends traditional stage productions by bringing the beloved story to life through a unique blend of music dance acrobatics and cuttingedge video technology Directed and choreographed by Anne Tournieacute alongside librettist Chris Mouron the show pushes boundaries to deliver a truly immersive experience with acrobatics music dance and projectionmappingTournieacute shares ldquoWhen we decided to do The Little Prince I was clear that the little prince would fly from planet to planet The snake would be an acrobat the lamplighter a flying pole artist and the king a baroque dancer Each planet had to be uniquerdquo Tournieacute emphasises that the movement of each character has meaning ldquoThe challenge was to find the right artist with the essence of each character and create something together The choreography is a setmdashthey must fit into its stylerdquoMouron who adapted the libretto adds that they retained the beauty of SaintExupeacuteryrsquos words ldquoEven though itrsquos a choreographic adaptation we couldnrsquot leave out the beautiful words of the original text As a librettist I had to extract the wordsrsquo essence keeping the bookrsquos spiritrdquo The creative process for the show was collaborative from the beginning ldquoWe started with the music then choreography and then I began thinking about the textrdquorecalls MouronTerry Truck the music director adds ldquoIt was like constructing a building We spent three years developing a solid foundation driven by passion not external demands Itrsquos an expensive show but we were fortunate to have great collaborators and producers to bring our vision to life This show came from our heartsrdquo This dedication is sure to inspire and connect with the audienceThe production which premiered in 2019 saw its momentum halted by the COVID19 pandemic Still Truck recounts they seized an opportunity to perform at the Sydney Opera House ldquoWe had to quarantine for two weeks but the experience was incrediblerdquoTerry Truck and Anne TournieacuteTournieacute speaks about the unity of the performance saying ldquoMy style blends language dance and acrobatics Therersquos no separation between up and down or between spaces The movement helps convey emotion because itrsquos not just about aerial tricks We tell a story in the air and on the groundrdquoFor audiences this creates an immersive experience where they feel part of the book ldquoThe huge video screen and groundlevel performance blend seamlesslyrdquo she says adding ldquoWe love the book deeply and thatrsquos why we created this showrdquoStaying true to the original spirit of The Little Prince was essential ldquoIrsquove seen adaptations that didnrsquot live up to my expectations As a reader I have my own imagination and emotional connection to the book and I wanted to preserve that for others who have read it The challenge was to stay true to the story without imposing our interpretation We wanted the audience to experience it in their wayrdquo says MouronThe production strives to be sincere with the team aiming to capture the emotions that resonate with the bookrsquos universal themes ldquoWhen you give something with your heart it resonates with othersrdquo Mouron explains The universal themes of love friendship and humanity are expected to deeply engage and connect with the audienceSpeaking further on the music Truck shares that music played a central role in crafting the productionrsquos emotional depth ldquoWe started with the music unusual for big shows that often bring in composers later I drew from my classical background to craft a score that enhances the storytelling For example I used Arabian instruments like the oud in the desert scenes mixed with the cello and tabla As the story moves through different settings the music adapts accordingly I incorporated strings and horns to bring emotional depth to the piece Music has a way of connecting with audiences on a primal level and I wanted to blend genres to evoke the right emotionsrdquo he saysFor Tournieacute adaptations are unique interpretations rather than literal renditions ldquoOur goal was to capture the essence of The Little Prince in a new dynamic way Itrsquos heartwarming to see how Antoine de SaintExupeacuteryrsquos fans have appreciated our adaptationrdquoReflecting on the experience of being on stage Dylan Barone who plays the titular protagonist notes ldquoWhen I performed with the costumes videos and projections it felt like I was stepping into an open book Everything clicked and I realised I needed to be present and have fun with the characters It was as if I was part of a living breathing book I was thrilled and nervous when I found out Irsquod be playing The Little Princerdquo he shares ldquoWe spent months learning the characters researching through theatre exercises and training for aerial stunts It was a lot of work but it helped me tap into my inner child and connect with the characterrdquoChris Mouron librettist and Dylan who plays The Little PrinceLooking back Truck reflects on the timeless nature of The Little Prince ldquoRereading it as an adult I approached it with a critical eye analysing its structure and themes But I also appreciated its beauty and universal appeal As a composer I believe music can enhance storytelling in ways that words alone cannotrdquoTournieacute and Mouron have visited Mumbai before and were struck by how unlike Europe Indiarsquos traditions remain intact For Truck India is a new experience and hersquos especially looking forward to trying local cuisine ldquoItrsquos going to be fantastic performing in India for the first time I believe the themes of The Little Princemdashlove friendship and humanitymdashwill resonate deeply with Indian audiencesrdquoCost Rs 1200 onwardsWhat The Little PrinceWhen September 2529Where NMACC BKCTo Book nmacccom