13 - Sunday, March 19, 1989 - Lynn Vailey Echo

Professional storyteller shares her tips
on entertaming children — and adults

EVEN WITH: the prevalence of televisions, videos and
special-effects movies in today’s society, there are not many
children who can resist the allure of a simple, well-told

story.

Mary Love May is a professiona!
storyteller who is helping to bring
the nearly lost art of storytelling
back to life.

“Some of my most precious
memories of my father are when

- he put me to bed and told me
stories,’ said the * 37-year-old
mother of a baby girl. :

But since her childhood. radio,
television and fast-paced lifestyles
have been’ a major factor in the
gradual disappearance. of tradi-
tional family storytimes.° . :
When May was studying for 2
‘master’s degree in botany, she
went to hear a storyteller who had,
come to town. =.

beginning.

© Take the time to know the plot
thoroughly so the actiou doesn’t
dawdie,

® Be familiar with the plot lines of

- several classic tales, so if you are

improvising, you have a good
background in story lines and end-
ings.

® Children like stories about
underdogs who win out.

© Keep descriptions simple and
personal (i.e. ‘‘The little prince
had hair just the color of yours.’’)

© Don’t talk down to the child.

© Tell stories that you like. You
can’t be a good storyteller if you
don’t like your material.

© “‘Be willing to completely let go
of everything else in your head «ic
that time,’’ advises May.

“Anytime you are totally present

with your child is mighty special

_time.””

Good stories “can also help
children deal with various stresses
in their own lives. :

Although the problem is couch-
ed in different terms, the traumas
presented in the classic folktales
bring to light the deep, underlying

_emotions experienced by most

children, such as fear of parental
abandonment.

Often, says May, children can
deal with their own feelings more
effectively when they are cloaked
in the form of a story.

Although May says she enjoys
telling old folktales as part of her
repertoire, she notes that the
stereotypical gender roles pres-
ented in many of the tales present

inappropriate images to children.
To deal with this, May some-
times changes the sex of thi: three
little pigs, and some tales, such as
the one about Peter the pumpkin
eater who locked his. wife in a

Photos submitted

pumpkin shell, she refuses to tell \saRY LOVE May is a professional Storyteller who is helping to revive

altogether. . the nearly lost art of telling a good story. She says both adults and
At the same time, however, she cnizdren benefit from experiences shared at “‘storytime.”’

hates to see the old classics rewrit-

ten in order to fall along feminist :

lines. ‘Politically, I. agree with

them, but as a story, something's “eg * FINANCIAL PLANHING © AUTOPLAH + BUSINESS + HOME OWNERS TRAVEL * LIFE © RAS.

~. *f hadn't been told a story in so”). ; . been lost.”

a “tong isaid- May. ..‘‘It was

». nourishmeat to my spirit.’’

This experience encouraged May .
-t0 pursue a storytelling career. The ~

“It’s a dilemma,” says May — Be.

while one can lock at all a story’s
characters, both male and female,

as symbols of. the characters found -
.in one’s own’ psychological make-:

GREAT HOURS!!
- M-T Sat 9:30-6
W.-Th-F.9:30-9 -

_ _ fact that “she is kept: tusy: with’ SUN-11-5:—

_up, May says that children get a
literal ‘message from..a story’s
gender roles as well.

. For: people interested in telling
stories — or just listening — the
Vancouver Storytelling Circle, for
adults and older children, meets on
the third Sunday of cach month at
7:30 p.m., at Hodson Manor, 1254
West 7th, Vancouver. .

For. more: information .atout .
» May’s © storytelling performances - iad
‘and workshops, call 733-6402. oe

- members. of the public —— both
‘ young and old — are welcoming’
‘the: return. of “such. home-style

; The Vancouver woman offers a
number. of | workshops,’ many
through ‘UBC, for beginning story-
‘tellers. Here are some of. the. tips ;;
she offers :to-adults who-.want to:
tel good stories to their children:

Mine’ ips 9
<"s right into "another, eae and slips a.
“you there fast,"* says May. Don’t

~ Start with Jone descriptions. mys

“celebrates
spring.

. CELEBRATE SPRING Break
*- holideys at the Lynn Valley branch ©
of the district library.
On Tuesday, March 28 at 10:30
_a.m, children aged three to five are
> invited to a puppet show. >=
. > Two days: later, on: “Thursday, - S
March 30 at 10:30 a.m., the older
four.to seven year olds can let off
“steam at Hoedown!, entertainment
‘from down on the farm with pup-
3 pets and stories. ~~“
For more information on these.
: free-events, call. the brary * ates
984-0286. cel,

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$857

321 ‘MANSFIELD PLACE
NORTH VANCOUVER |

CALL AHEAD .
987-8487.
We'll Have it Ready! .

1256 Lyan Valley Ra.”
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