PAROIMIA - The Tale of Colours

It would be good to get an idea of what this production is about, then you’ll better understand where those props I did came from and what it’s for. Have a good read


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Why ‘ Paroimia’?

Paroimia means parable. In Greek. But in the words of Shakespeare’s Juliet, “…a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
And so, whatever it is called, Paroimia is essentially, a parable. “But what is a parable?” you ask.

A parable is a story with a deeper meaning; a meaning that goes beyond the words used or the story-telling methods employed.
“So what’s the deeper meaning?” you ask. First, let us tell you the story:

Gold:

Once upon a time, a prince was born in the Golden City. His name was Prince Elyon.

Black:

That same day, the commander of the Golden Army, Kieron, led a rebellion against the King and stole away the citizens.

Red:

It had been foretold that a day like that would come, when a savior would be needed. He would have to die in exchange for the citizens’ freedom. His blood for theirs.

White:

Prince Elyon was to be that savior. Would he be able to wipe the darkness of Kieron out?

Green:

Would the people ever be free from Kieron?




Once upon a time, a prince was
born in the Golden City.

His name was Prince Elyon.
That same day, the commander
of the Golden Army, Kieron,

led a rebellion against the King
and stole away the citizens.
It had been foretold
that a day like that would come,

when a savior would be needed.
He would have to die in exchange
for the citizens’ freedom.

His blood for theirs.
Prince Elyon was to be that savior.

Will he be able to wipe the
darkness of Kieron out?

Will the people ever be free from the clutches of Kieron?




Scene Summary

Act 1

Scene 1

Late one evening, in the town of the Golden City, a group of teenagers - Amia, Asher, and Cedric - are found. The group bumps into Mr. Cuinn, an old storyteller renowned in the Golden City for his tales. They talk about the Prince’s birthday the day before, and Mr. Cuinn remarks that the Prince too, used to love hearing his stories. Amia, Asher, and Cedric then beg Mr. Cuinn to tell them a story.
And so the Paroimia, the Tale of Colors, unfolds.

Scene 2

Mr. Cuinn tells his story, which begins in a city with streets of gold. During the day, every wall in the city shone like diamonds. At night, the city glowed like silver under the moonlight and stars above. On a high hill overlooking the city stood the Golden Palace, where King Elohim ruled with righteousness and grace, ever upholding The Promise.
One night, a star shone over the palace, brighter than all the other stars in the sky. That night, the Prince was born.

Scene 3

Shortly after the Prince’s birth, citizens come to the Golden Palace to honor the birth of Prince Elyon.
They are interrupted by the town crier, who comes to announce that Kieron, the chief commander of the Golden Command, has turned against the King, and is leading a rebellion to overthrow the Kingdom.
Kieron arrives to sieze what she claims is rightfully hers - the Golden City. King Elohim warns that destruction is their fate. Nevertheless, Kieron and her followers refuse to yield. They are stripped of their golden armor , becoming the Dark Legion.
The Dark Legion wages battle with the Golden Command, but as their forces weaken, they begin to retreat Golden City – but not without taking what they came for. Before the Golden Command realizes the Dark Legion’s scheme, they flee, taking their prisoners with them.

Scene 4

The King and the Golden Command arrive at the city, only to realize that the Dark Legion had used the battle as a diversion – while the Golden Command had been attacking the enemy forces, others of the Dark Legion were in the city using their trickery to lure citizens into following them.
The King and the Golden Command follow the Dark Legion in hot pursuit, desperate to reach them before they pass the city’s border into Leavenwood, once a beautiful forest but now a terrifying place, with no chance of escape.
They arrive to see the Dark Legion cross the city’s border into Leavenwood, along with the citizens. Kieron taunts King Elohim, daring him and his Golden Command to step foot in a cursed land. It seems that Kieron has won. But King Elohim replies that she can never win, and orders her to release his people. She asks him why he bothers, as his people will only disappoint him. Kieron reminds the King that his people are here by choice and had followed the Dark Legion out of free will. King Elohim replies that his people have been tricked and lied to, and that they were not meant to live that way. Kieron tells King Elyon that her way is much easier, and challenges him to try to convince his people otherwise.

Scene 5

Back at the palace, the Golden Command are in despair. They wonder how Kieron could turn against them, angry at the way he tricked the people into following them. They realize the urgency of the task at hand – to save the people and prevent Kieron’s deception from continuing, with no escape for those tricked. The soldiers deliberate over how they can save the people when they have free will to choose their fate.

The city’s prophet enters, and reminds them of a way the people can be saved – through the One who can redeem every man. Prince Elyon, the son of King Elohim, was born for such a time as this – to pay the price and save his people’s life. To do this, he has to give up his royalty and become a common man, suffering a great deal of pain, and shedding his own blood.
Shocked, the soldiers ask if there is no other way to save the people. Sadly, the King affirms that there is not, because only the blood of one completely innocent can pay the price for the lives of others.

Act 2

Scene 1

Amia, Asher, and Cedric are walking together, discussing Mr. Cuinn’s story. They wonder if Levenwood is real, and decide to find out. Little do they know that Levenwood is as real as they are.
They stumble into a dark forest – the Levenwood of Mr. Cuinn’s story. The forest is dark and eerie, and Cedric gets spooked and runs back to safety. Amia and Asher decide to continue exploring. They are afraid at first, but then they stumble across a group of brightly dressed jesters. The jesters invite them to play with them, and proceed to show Amia and Asher just how much fun they can have. Amia and Asher join in, and soon find themselves having the time of their lives.
Amia soon realizes that it is late, and she has to go. Asher is not ready to leave, and follows a few jesters to find more fun. Amia stays with the rest of the jesters, and they try to convince her to stay with them. Amia remains unconvinced, until they offer her a gift – a wish for anything she desires. In return, she must abandon The Promise and stay with them. She accepts the gift, and makes her wish. But she is tricked, along with Asher. After making their wish, they become prisoners of Levenwood, and join the other prisoners, known as the Grey Doldrums.

Scene 2

Back at the Golden Palace, Prince Elyon is getting ready for his 21st birthday celebration. He has grown into a strong and valiant man. King Elohim enters the royal chamber to talk to his son. Prince Elyon feels the weight of his burden – his destiny. He asks his father if there is no other way to save the Grey Doldrums. But without waiting for King Elohim’s answer, Prince Elyon knows that there can be no other way.

Scene 3

Prince Elyon braces himself before entering Levenwood, because it was known that anyone of noble blood who crossed the Golden City’s border into Levenwood would have to give up his kingship and become a normal man. Upon crossing the border, he is stripped of his royal robe and crown by the Dark Legion, who mock him and tell him he made a mistake by coming to Levenwood.
Prince Elyon meets Amia, and tells her that he can show her the way out of Levenwood, back to the Golden City. Amia begins to believe him. The other Grey Doldrums overhear Prince Elyon’s claims, and are incited by the Dark Legion to accuse him of blasphemy. They decide to kill this intruder who dares to claim that there is a way out of Levenwood, and more outrageous, that the way out is through him. Amia tries to stop them, but the mob begins to strike the Prince, and his royal blood spills from his body. As he bleeds, the filth of the Dark Legion begins to be washed away by the Blood Army. Kieron finds that death does not kill the Prince, and realizes her fate.

Finally, the Prince crushes Kieron’s staff, rendering her powerless. The Blood Army triumphs. Prince Elyon proclaims the battle is won, and removes Amia’s shackles, telling her that she is free. He explains that it was his destiny to die for those he loves. Redemption demands his blood and his life, but even death’s power cannot not hold him. He asks the rest of the Grey Doldrums if they will choose him, and choose a life of freedom once more. A few choose to be free, but others, including Asher, are unwilling to leave the place which has become familiar to them.
Prince Elyon tells those who choose freedom to go and live.

Scene 4

It is evening, in the town of the Golden City. Mr. Cuinn is found telling the story of Paroimia, The Color Tale, to another group of children.
He finishes the story, and the children cheer. One of them asks what happened to Asher. Mr. Cuinn explains that everyone has a choice to follow Prince Elyon out of Levenwood back to the Golden City. Another child asks if Asher can still be saved. Mr. Cuinn chuckles and tells him that’s a story for another day.

THE END


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This is not by me but created by a team for this production. I am just the Set & Props designer.