Jeff Gere presents: “Tales of Forgiveness” and “The Three Monks”

Jeff Gere presents: “Tales of Forgiveness” and “The Three Monks”

Thursday, April 11, 2019 at 6:30pm

Jeff Gere blends talents as painter, puppeteer, and mime into performances which have electrified audiences in Hawaii for 25 years. Jeff’s physical energy, morphing elastic face and voice characterizations make his shows events. Jeff becomes his stories!

Jeff opens with two local Tales of Forgiveness(true supernatural tales): a Hawaiian Family begs a stone to forgive them. Then Jeff performs the Tales of the Three Monks(a scalding 45 minutes). A discussion ends the evening.

The Three Monks Short Synopsis: Three monks meet on a forlorn mountain trail. One face shows the refinements of court life. Another wears battle scars. The third face is round and soft. Their tragic tales reveal that each man’s fate is entwined with the others. Their thrilling adventures, worldly wisdom, and exquisitely sad beauty has inspire tears. Storyteller JEFF GERE performs live narrative amid a unique video of collage illustrations & musical bed.

Jeff’s Comment: I read this Japanese tale in college 40 years ago (in college) a collection authored by Donald Keene (I met him by chance in Sacramento. He has just passed away). It did not include the 3rd monk’s tale. Then In Thailand (2015), a Vietnamese teller remarked how his traditional tales are so sad! Right then, the 3rd tale fell into place (a Vietnamese folktale I read as a picture book years ago). I don’t question these things. I told them (with masks) at Honolulu’s Spalding House Museum (2016). People wept. Oh, my fascination with the powerful emotional effects of tragic tales increased. I’ve been collecting images & plotting this theatrical storytelling show since. I told these tales at the Hawaii Book & Music Fest. (2017), as the  second half of a solo show for Hawaii Public Radio (June 2018), and this audio/video version premiered at the Oahu Fringe (January 2019.) How exciting (& scary) to be so consumed with a tale!… (or three) with composed & coordinated visual & audio technology! I’m still not sure why such tragic tales of love ‘work’ on me & my audiences. But they do.

Born on Halloween, Jeff performs constantly. He produced the Talk Story Festival, Hawaii’s biggest storytelling celebration (26 years!), Story TV (monthly, 23 years), Talk Story Radio (2 years, weekly shows), story camps & conferences. He taught Storytelling at UH Manoa (Spring, ’17). He performed at the National Storytelling Festival (2010, Residency 2013) and Spain, Hong Kong, Turkey, Vancouver & the Yukon.

Jeff retired from Oahu Parks Dept to end 2014,and began international tours to Thailand, China, Japan, Australia, and twice to India, Romania & Taiwan (www.jeffgere.com)  on YouTube. Come see him! Tickets are $15/$10 VAC Members.