A Haitian Spring Celebration features ‘Mister Wa’

Brooklyn’s Brave New World Repertory Theatre (BNW) presented an epic artistic performance in Little Haiti entitled “A Haitian Spring Celebration” featuring Mister Wa, a traditional Afro-Haitian Folk Tale.

This event was held on Saturday, April 22 and organized by Sheila Anozier who choreographed and directed the outdoor performance. Anozier is a Haitian singer, dancer and visual artist.

This cultural celebration took place in a historic landmark scenery in Brooklyn in the middle of the East 25th St., between Clarendon Road and Avenue D. “The setting for the Haitian Spring Celebration is perfect,” said Claire Beckman, producer and artistic director of Brave New World Repertory. The block of pristine, century-old row houses on East 25th St. in East Flatbush is the neighborhood’s first-ever historic district; the designation by the city’s Landmarks Preservation celebrates both the “unusually intact and cohesive” strand of 56 Renaissance Revival row houses along the stretch.

Kids interact with the actors of Brooklyn’s Brave New World Repertory Theatre.

This free, site-specific historic performance featured “Mister Wa,” a traditional Afro-Haitian folk tale. According to Anozier, folktales are one of the most important aspects of Haitian culture. “‘Mister Wa’” is her adaptation of the Haitian Folktale. The character ‘Mister Wa’ demonstrates a story of a princess who attempts to find love with a debonaire stranger she meets one day while strolling among her subjects. Steeped in the beauty of their oral tradition, family and friends still gather at night to tell stories, and trade riddles and proverbs. The storyteller will yell out ‘Krik?,’ and if one is willing to partake, he or she will respond ‘Krak!’ The displaying of “Mister Wa” consisted of several expressions, dance and moves. The sounds of the drums were soothing, entertaining, and amusing. The yelling of ‘Krik’ and ‘Krak’ by the performers were extremely engaging and fascinating.

Brave New World Repertory Theatre is a Brooklyn-based company that targets underserved audiences, and its mission is to showcase interactive site-specific theatre to the doorway of Brooklyn communities. Since 2003, Brave New World Reptory Theatre, has dedicated itself to bring entertainment and ambiance into the community of Brooklyn.

Parents and their children gathered around the sidewalk, patio, and their doorsteps to watch and dance with the performers. It was an afternoon of joy and bliss that honored and celebrated the rich tradition of Haitian art.

Coming up on Brave New World’s calendar is the American premiere of Arthur Miller’s 1947 screenplay, “The Hook,” a site-specific production performed on the Waterfront Museum Barge in Red Hook. The first preview is June 8, with the opening June 9. It will run for three weekends through June 25. More details on BNW’s website.