After the Quake.

Theatregoers: Haruki Murakami’s book of short stories, After the Quake, is coming to Vancouver in a play adapted for the stage by Frank Galati. The play is being directed by Craig Hall and Richard Wolfe, and produced by Rumble Productions and Pi Theatre.

In 1995, a disastrous earthquake hit Kobe, Japan, and the Tokyo subway was hit by deadly poison gas attacks. after the quake is based on bestselling author Haruki Murakami’s stories about life in the wake of disaster. It takes its audience on a journey where magic and realism collide, in an exploration of disrupted reality. Junpei is a timid writer who enchants Sayoko, the love of his life, by conjuring up stories to soothe the anguish of her young daughter Sala, a girl who is having nightmares of the Earthquake Man. A talking bear makes the very best honey pies, and Katagiri, a bank loans officer, struggles to distinguish between what is real and what is not when six-foot Frog asks for help to fight off giant Worm for the future of Tokyo. Together, these stories explore the emotional aftershocks of disaster, and offer a message of hope and healing.

The show is from November 19 – Dec 5, 2009 at Studio 16 (1545 W. 7th Ave). Tickets from $15 at Vancouvertix.com.

Murakami is a genius. Should be good.

UPDATE: Pi Theatre is holding a haiku contest on Twitter. Enter by November 13th, 4pm, to win free tickets to After the Quake.