Discover 'The Black-bearded Bai', a captivating play by Richard Baines, tailored for junior and middle secondary students to immerse in Asian folklore. This brand new paperback edition invites young readers to explore themes of intelligence triumphing over brute force, a common narrative in traditional Chinese tales. The comedic story of Aina-kizz and the titular Black-bearded Bai offers a delightful journey of wit and satisfaction, showcasing the victory of the underdog against wealth and power. Enhanced by rich storytelling, this play stands as an educational resource, promoting cultural understanding through performance arts. 'The Black-bearded Bai' is not only entertaining but also serves as a tool to engage students with historical narratives and moral lessons while fostering their dramatic skills. As part of a six-play collection, it invites readers to delve into 'The Secret Housewife', 'Ido and the Devil', and 'Ken Arok', each offering unique insights into Eastern folklore and universal themes. Perfect for classroom settings, school performances, or personal reading, this play can enrich the student's literary experience while broadening their appreciation for global stories. Delivery is fast and reliable, ensuring you get this wonderful educational resource right at your doorstep without any hassle.

CONDITION: Brand New


Bind: paperback
Author: Richard Baines Publisher: Phoenix Education
Publication Date: 28-08-2013

The Black-bearded Bai is the first of six plays based on Asian folk lore and written specifically for use by junior and middle secondary students.

The plays are:


The Secret Housewife

The Secret Housewife illustrates a common theme in Oriental folklore. The story may be about a tien, or immortal, but it is really about loneliness, growing old and the difficulty of adapting to a changing world. This sad tale works well as a quiet, tragic mystery.

The Black-bearded Bai

A favourite theme in Chinese folklore is the triumph of intelligence over brute force. This idea is often linked with the victory of a poor person over a wealthy one. The story of Aina-kizz and the Black-bearded Bai fulfils both of the above, and is an amusing and satisfying tale. It seems natural to present it as a Brechtian comedy.

Ido and the Devil

This is a traditional story of good versus evil. Rather than turn Ido into an angel it seemed more fun to portray him as a large, innocent, artless adolescent schoolboy. And rather than portray the Devil as a traditional monster, it seemed more entertaining to depict him as a comic character, lacking in confidence but with a cheeky irrepressible nature. This script has turned into a modern-day absurdist morality play.

Ken Arok

Ken Arok is a fascinating, complex character. He is both a treacherous man and also a brave warrior. To some he is a hero, to others a villain. There is some cheerful comic banditry in Act 1, but the piece ends as a riveting physical drama, complete with stage