New Zealand theater company, Indian Ink, comes to CSB

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University Fine Arts Series presents Indian Ink Theatre Company's Kiss the Fish at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, in Gorecki Family Theater, Benedicta Arts Center, CSB.

"Kiss the Fish is a comic love story of epic proportions set in a battlefield where the preservation of traditional culture comes up against the ravenous demands of economic development," wrote the New Zealand Herald.

Kiss the Fish is based on a true story of a fully-built luxury resort that was ready to receive guests but the local population opted to preserve their traditional way of life. Now the only inhabitants are the island's monkeys. The play explores universal themes of how to sustain our resources and traditions while considering the needs of the next generation.

Indian Ink Theatre Company is based in New Zealand. It has traveled the world with its award-winning show Guru of Chai. Now the company's signature use of mischievous wit and artful storytelling brings a new production to hilarious life.

The company is known for its use of "serious laugh," to connect audiences with deeper themes. India Ink's unique theatrical style takes viewers on a journey rich in culture that challenges traditional thinking and asks audiences to consider things from a different point of view.

While researching this play, Indian Ink's co-creators spent time in Bali, Malaysia, and southern India. Cultural traditions from these regions come alive in this production. The production features 16 hand-crafted Balinese comic masks that serve to exaggerate and amplify emotion for the audience.

Indian Ink's productions have won numerous awards, including two Edinburgh Fringe First awards and three Production of the Year awards in New Zealand.

Tickets to Kiss the Fish are; $20, Senior $17, Student/Youth $10. For tickets, call the BAC Box Office at 320-363-5777, or order online at www.csbsju.edu/fine-arts.
This performance is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Central MN Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.