The Life Connection • Book & Movie Reviews

Since the day I first discovered Rumi, I have thought of him as a poet. Most of us do. In Rumi’s Tales from the Silk Road, Kamla K. Kapur brings us an experience of Rumi as master storyteller.

This beautiful book is vastly more than a compilation of Rumi stories. Having spent years reading and interpreting Nicholson’s English translation of Rumi’s sivolume Mathnawi, the author has taken the liberty of combining many tales into one, clarifying diffuse names and endings for the modern reader, and classifying the stories into eight sections.

Though born and raised in India, the author has thoroughly mastered the English language, for the parables are recounted in everyday American idiom. Her expression is graceful but never stilted. That said, it is primarily in the introduction and in her naming of the eight sections that we see into the depth of her soul.

Each section highlights a piece of Sikh wisdom: “Surrender to God’s Will,” “Embrace Suffering,” “Pray,” “Be Content,” “Trust Spiritual Masters,” “Tame Your Ego,” “Be Humble,” and “Befriend Death.”

It is perhaps Rumi’s circuitous style, Kapur points out — apparently a weakness from his own point of view – that has led us to think of him more as a poet. As she says, “…the artistic Rumi, the storyteller and the poet, pushes back the boundaries of the inexpressible again and again, and utilizes his material to perfection.” And “Rumi’s stories are a marvelous mix of eccentric storytelling and spirituality. Even his bawdy tales carry a spiritual message.”

It is of course the author’s expressed hope that these modern versions of Rumi’s stories will lead you back to the original translation. If you love Rumi (and who doesn’t?) you will want to get your feet wet delving into this little treasure chest. If you’ve never read Rumi, and even if you think you don’t like poetry, I suggest you also treat yourself to a book of his poems.

—Chiwah

About Kamla K. Kapur

Poet and former creative writing professor at Grossmont College, Kamla Kapur was on the faculty of Grossmont College in San Diego, California for 18 years and taught creative writing courses in play writing, poetry, creative nonfiction, fiction, and courses in mythology, Shakespeare, and Women’s Literature. A native of India, she lives with her husband, Payson R. Stevens, half of he year in the remote Kullu Valley in the Himalayas and the other half in Del Mar, California. Stevens was featured in the Feb. 2010 issue of TLC. Professor Kapur published two books of poetry: the critically acclaimed, As A Fountain In A Garden (Tarang Press, Del Mar, CA. USA-Hemkunt Publishers Private, Ltd., India, 2005) and Radha Sings (Rolling Drum and Dark Child Press, USA, 1987). For more info visit Ms. Kapur’s Web site at www.Kamlakkapur.com

175 Theatre Games: Warm-up Exercises for Actors — and Fun for Everyone

by local author Nancy Hurley • www.nancyhurley.net

A few years ago now, you met someone new. It doesn’t matter how. They were outgoing and fearless, a great listener, a contributing team member, someone who could both inspire a crowd and quietly sit, simply being there, seated next to you. Chances are they took at least one Theatre class in school or as an adult. And they loved it.

Theatre training is valuable training for life’s everyday experiences: Listening, Cooperation, Focus, Improvisation and Communication skills all play an important role in deepening our relationships and broadening our professional successes. Thanks to Nancy Hurley, now anyone – actually, everyone – can practice these skills to enhance every moment of their own life.

Although she’s written this book for a theatre student of any level, it is so easy to see these games spicing up other areas of our lives. #17 “Knots” could work out the interpersonal kinks in the boardroom: 6 or so people stand in a circle and hold the hand of someone across from them. Once all the hands are held, the team – without letting go – untangles the knot, looping, twisting and turning. Your CFO might actually laugh aloud. Think about this getting-to-know-you game at the next dinner party: #104 encourages someone else to have your nametag, and you may wear it after you find it! Finally, next time you’re driving in the car with the kids, turn off the radio and Free Association (#70). Someone starts off by saying a simple word and the next person “quickly” says the next word that comes to mind. Around and around it goes. “The emphasis is on quick association,” she says.

That’s one of my favorite parts of this book. She lets us in on the secrets of what makes these games so fun – and important. “Until everyone has had a turn.” “Stories can get a bit strange.” “… good large group improv…” “…using eye contact.” “Classic observation skills…” And we know what happens when we have fun. We want to have more. There are 175 ways to laugh and practice valuable skills at the same time, whether you love the theatre already or just not yet.

This book is a must for every theatre teacher, workshop coordinator, HR director and everyone else who not only wants to have a good time, but wants to be a part of the good time as well.

You can win one of three free copies of 175 Theatre Games when you e-mail us at lightconnection@cox.net. Tell us a short story about when you saw someone clown around and wished you could do the same. Chapter One is Clowning after all.

Published by Meriwether Publishing (Sep. 2009) 121 pages (Paperback) The book is available at Borders or Amazon.com. $17.95 or discounted online. Contact Nancy Hurley at www.nancyhurley.net

—Liv Kellgren