The King of the Golden River

Part fairy tale, part Dickens—The King of the Golden River is a mysterious story that explores how greed and cruelty threaten to destroy the river and the surrounding valley. It depicts how kindness (not magic) finally restores the area to its natural beauty. In a prologue where an insensitive tour guide proudly points out nuclear reactors, complex highway systems and industrial technology, an old man angrily protests the Golden River's current environmental ruin. Although most of the tourists dismiss the old man, one young boy lingers and proves to be a skeptical, but active audience for the old man's tale of a young boy who long ago conquered his brothers' cruelties and saved the Golden River through his compassion. The heart of the play is the boy's adventure story that includes surprising characters such as the southwest wind and the king who turns the evil brothers into dark stones. The original production at the California Theatre Center was set in the American Southwest in the 1800s and theatrically used Native American rituals, sounds and images.