The American Place Theatre

The last novel Ernest Hemingway saw published, The Old Man and the Sea has proved itself to be one of the enduring works of American fiction. It is the story of an old Cuban fisherman and his supreme ordeal: a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. Using the simple, powerful language of a fable, Hemingway takes the timeless themes of courage in the face of defeat and personal triumph won from loss and transforms them into a magnificent twentieth-century classic.

This educational event features a 20-minute, live performance from the Nobel prize winning book by Ernest Hemingway.  The excerpt encompasses the entire arc of the story, including the fisherman’s relationship with the boy, the triumphant capture of the fish and the subsequent devastating loss of the fish in the battle with the sharks.

Following the performance students will meet Maria La Mar, mother of Santiago’s boy assistant, Monolo. Mrs. La Mar asks the students to help her convince Santiago and Monolo that he should stop working as a fisherman. Students will have a chance to explore this dilemma, offer Monolo, his mother and Santiago advice and ultimately, step into role as Monolo to enact their solutions. This activity is great for exploring conflict resolution and the struggle between obligation and personal goals.

The event will culminate with the students reflecting on their own values, identity and goals through a series of activities.  They will go on a journey through guided imagery to explore the one thing that they want out of life, the obstacles in the way and how far they are willing to go to achieve that goal. As a class, students will create a visual image with tableaux to represent the group’s aspirations. This process will help students to unmask their beliefs and desires about the future.