Home     Contact Us         Log in
Sep 14
Thursday
Arts and Poetry
Visiting Shambhala

A five-act comedy that takes us to the court of the Rigden

by Walker Blaine

A year ago in the spring, I had the most surprising thought: I could write a five-act Shambhala comedy. It was as though a light physically turned on in my head, and within a few weeks I had a working draft of Norbu and the Mystery of the Missing Ratna. Friends joined my wife and me for readings in our apartment, and Liz Richardson, a professional actress, offered to co-direct a production. We soon had auditions and a cast of 17 preparing 23 parts for a staged reading at the Halifax Shambhala Centre last fall. 

Norbu and the Mystery of the Missing Ratna tells the tale of a humble man named Norbu who journeys to the mythical kingdom of Shambhala in order to return a gold coin, a ratna, to the Rigden King, ruler of the world of goodness. Along the way Norbu encounters male and female warriors, gods, animals, soldiers, ministers, a king, and two queens. None of us realized it at first, but the true magic of the play was that everyone—cast, crew, and finally the audience—became explorers of the kingdom of Shambhala, the land of goodness and dignity.

We offered three performances to a total of 180 people during the Harvest of Peace weekend. The entire audience, even children, found the script humorous and meaningful. I was especially touched that non-Shambhalians enjoyed the play and that so many people were smiling in the coatroom after each performance.

Please enjoy three gifts from the magic of last year:

  • A ten-minute teaser-trailer that shot in Halifax’s Point Pleasant Park.
  • Terry Rudderham’s wonderful pictures of the players at the matinee to give you a flavor of the actual performance.
  • And finally, the first act of the play in ebook format that can be read on a computer, iPad, or Kindle. At the end of the ebook, you will find information about how to obtain a full script and how you might go about staging a local production if so inclined.
Link for Kindle version of Act One:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7Lfbdb6D7DOVFpCc3FPWjhtcWM
Link for Mac version of Act One:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7Lfbdb6D7DOUkRnenZEYjZtZWs

Walker Blaine is Master of Liturgies to Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and a Herald of the Kalapa Court. He has been part of the Shambhala community for more than 30 years. Walker’s ebook, The Great River of Blessings, an account of the Rinchen Terdzö received by the Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in the winter of 2008-2009, can be downloaded at the Sakyong Foundation. His two CDs of Buddhist music can be sampled on iTunes. He lives with his wife in Halifax, Nova Scotia. [email protected] 


Photos:

1. Tim Walker, Norbu McBurns and Anna Shotwell, Lance Corporal Gillian McGillicutty 

 

2. Torgny Vigerstad, Patient Bear and Jeff Miller, Miraculous Dove

 

3. Brin Jones, Plus and India Gailey, Minus

 

4. Dan Corbett, Bravery, Torgny Vigerstad, Patient Bear and Jeff Miller, Miraculous Dove

 

5. Sarah Cox, Firefly Dignity, Aaron Manier, Garuda Vase and Tim Walker, Norbu McBurns

 

6. Tim Walker, Norbu McBurns and Richard Peisinger, Rigden King

 

7. Brin Jones, Plus, India Gailey, Minus, Tim Walker, Norbu McBurns and Anna Shotwell, Lance Corporal Gillian McGillicutty

 

8. Tim Walker, Norbu McBurns and David Brown, Transcendent Virtue

 

9. Tim Walker, Norbu McBurns and Meg Vigerstad, Singing River McBurns

 

10. Tim Walker, Norbu McBurns and Walker Blaine, Guard

 

11. Tim Walker, Norbu McBurns and Liz Richardson, Drukmo, Queen of Ling

 

12. Tim Walker, Norbu McBurns and John Odenthal, Nonthought Lightning

 

13. Patricia Blaine, Narrator

 

14. Rear: Aaron Manier, David Brown, John Odenthal, Dan Corbett, Patricia Blaine, Walker Blaine. Middle: Jeff Miller, Richard Peisinger, Tim Walker, Meg Vigerstad, Sarah Cox, Anna Shotwell. Front: Torgny Vigerstad, Maggie, India Gailey, Brin Jones, Liz Richardson. Not pictured: David Cox

 

Post Tags: , ,
2 responses to “ Visiting Shambhala ”
  1. Christine Heming
    Sep 15, 2017
    Reply

    Playwright Blaine. Some of us who live afar were unable to attend the premier. Thanks for the snippet.
    Will there be a second performance? The next play? We will all look forward.

  2. Judith Smith
    Sep 14, 2017
    Reply

    Walker, this play was just totally delightful! Everything about it! Loved being there! There were two or three people who stole the show, you know. India Gailey and Brin Jones, primarily. But then one cannot forget Anna Weinstein Shotwell and Maggie Colby!

    xoxo, Judith


Sorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.



Website Development by Blue Mandala using Wordpress MU.
All content and source Copyright © 1994-2024. Shambhala International (Vajradhatu), Shambhala, Shambhala Meditation Center, Shambhala Training, Shambhala Center and Way of Shambhala are registered service marks of Shambhala USA
Privacy Policy
Translate »