Stage Scene
Mastering invention in a mythical wyrld

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Staff Writer

King Kastigal (Stefan Beresiwsky) of Nyveria battles his birth enemy Prince Ra'iir (Brent Parker) of Cong Manaar. Theatricus environmental theater relies on improvisation and audience participation in a play based on two warring and fictional "wyrlds." "Beneath A Dragon's Wing" The Legend of Romney Black, Chapter 1 Presented by Theatricus 10 a.m.-noon Saturday and Sunday and June 23-24 Dole Playground Park, 602 Magellan Ave. Free 734-8237

It's not that Joubert is particularly geeky or a spitting image of actor Rick Moranis, mind you. It's just that as he walks through the empty lawn of Dole Playground under ominous storm-clouded skies, explaining the fictional "wyrlds" of human kingdom Nyveria and elfin land C÷ng Manaar that will take over the park this weekend, Joubert seems possessed by something quite otherworldly himself.

On the other hand, maybe it's just excitement that his self-financed, and entirely free to the public, 15-actor production of the swords-and-sorcery fantasy "Beneath A Dragon's Wing" will finally hit the outdoor "stage" of the amphitheater-shaped Punchbowl playground after months of writing, planning and rehearsals.

"We're going to use those as ruins," says Joubert, pointing toward an oddly shaped jungle gym contraption that looks suspiciously like, well, ruins. Quickly moving around the high-cliffed, foliage-lined — though very empty — park, he explains, "There'll be performances happening in encampments there. A prison sanctuary will be near those trees. There'll be combat happening in a ring right here."

A combat ring?

"The actors will do actual combat," says Joubert, the production's creator, director, producer and supporting actor. "There's swords and blades and steel." He pauses and thinks aloud. "Is there an ax in this show? I don't think I have an ax in this one."

As Joubert describes it, Theatricus' style of theater creates a detailed environment where audiences feel as if they are part of the story as it unfolds.

"Basically, our job is to create a set of characters that, together with a selected location, will bring a story to life," says Joubert, as a heavy drizzle sends us to some trees near the "ruins." "That's done by allowing the audience to walk through, interact with and run their fingers through a story. It's almost like they'll be stepping into a day in the life of (these worlds)."

Joubert says audience members will be viewed by actors as citizens of one of the two warring nations and treated accordingly as friend or foe.

"The audience should move around the area, asking the actors questions and listening to their answers," advises Joubert. "The play will end the same way every night, but the audience will be able to alter it so it smells, looks and tastes different each time."

After directing several environmental-theater productions while living on the Mainland, "Beneath" will be Joubert's first Hawai'i production since moving here two years ago. His cast of locals is as entirely new to the experience as audience members will likely be.

"They're ready but absolutely nervous about what to expect from the audience that day," says Joubert, giggling mischievously. "The show is like the framework of a play, except very improvisational. It's strung together according to the outcome of scenes, and is kept very flexible. We know the elements that need to be present, but we do not have a written script."

"Beneath A Dragon's Wing" tells the story of a young thief named Romney Black whose one seemingly innocuous act brings the Visable Wyrld nations of Nyveria and C÷ng Manaar to the brink of war. In creating his remarkably detailed world, Joubert created an entire language for the C÷ng Manii, bloodlines for all the characters and even fleshed out religions for both nations. Joubert envisions this production, subtitled "The Legend of Romney Black," as the first of a series of Theatricus stagings detailing his mythical Visable Wyrlds.

An office manager with Travel Graphics International on weekdays, Joubert has dropped almost $5,000 of his own money into the production's sets, props and costumes, staging "Beneath" free-of-charge in the hopes of attracting a loyal following to Theatricus' blend of theater and playing pretend.

"I think the best way to enjoy this is to leave your preconceived ideas and expectations of traditional theater behind," says Joubert, gazing across a baseball diamond to where a Nyverian tavern will stand. "Come with a little bit of that spirit you had when you were 7 or 8 that allowed you to play James Bond, Power Rangers or Superman."

Even the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.