FESTIVALS & EVENTS : A Storied Night of Myth, Magic and Joy

Tall tales of derring-do, epic tales of heroes and stories of far-away kingdoms will all be part of a national night of storytelling that includes a celebration of the art form in Orange County on Friday.

Some of the 1,001 tales told in 101 locations nationwide that night will be performed by the South Coast Storytellers Guild at the Forum Theater in Laguna Beach. Other Southern California storytelling events will be held in Claremont, Palm Springs and San Diego.

Since its inception three years ago, “Tellebration, The Night of Storytelling” has grown into the storytelling event of the year, according to Kay Cassell, special events coordinator for the Tennessee-based National Assn. for the Preservation and Perpetuation of Storytelling.

The evening is also a fund-raising event for both local storytelling organizations and the national association. Money raised will help operate the national association’s library and archives.

Jim Lewis, a storyteller known as both Santa and Grandpa Jim, said the evening will be a night of the myth, magic and joy. Lewis believes preservation of the oral tradition is a necessity for modern life.

“If people don’t have stories, myth and legend, then everything is reality,” Lewis said.

Most people no longer sit on their porches on a Sunday afternoon and tell stories of what life was like a generation before. Part of the reason, according to Cassell, is the electronic picture box that sits in the living room of most American homes.

“Television has all but killed storytelling,” Cassell said. “Because of TV and the geographic separation of young families from their parents and grandparents, a whole generation is growing up not knowing what life was like when Grandma was a child.”

Lewis also blames television for the loss of myth and legend in modern America.

“In cultures with an oral tradition, you have people say, ‘I hear what you mean,’ ” he said. “Whereas we say ‘I see what you mean,’ because we get most of our information from pictures.

“If all a child has is television or even books, he or she sees just what’s in front of them. The lack of storytelling means children are not learning the important myths and legends they need, the transitional stories of life.”

And they miss out on the meaning of much of what they are watching, he added.

A child watching a movie such as Disney’s “Duck Tales” and seeing ducks turned into pigs will not understand the reference to Greek mythology, Lewis lamented. It is also important to hear the original tale, not popular adaptations. There are more than 500 Cinderella stories in Europe alone, Lewis said.

“And none of them are the wimpy girl who needs rodents to help her. It’s a rags to riches tale of a formidable young woman who keeps the magic inside herself,” he explained. “The Disney tale is cute, but that’s all. It doesn’t help a child move into adulthood.”

Lewis, appearing as Santa, will be part of Friday’s bill, telling several seven- to 10-minute tales geared to children above age 8. Other storytellers include Nancy McQuillan, Clark Branson, Angela Klingler and Bill Quillinan. They plan an evening of tales designed for all ages.

“This is as much to promote storytelling to grown-ups as children,” Cassell said. “Adults have the misconception that storytelling is only for children. But we can all enjoy a good tale.

For Lewis, the evening is also a chance to share his craft with others.

“This is the best thing I’ve ever done in my 60 years, tell stories,” he said.

What: Tellebration 92! The Night of Storytelling.

When: Friday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m.

Where: Forum Theater, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna.

Whereabouts: Take San Diego Freeway to the Laguna Canyon Road exit. Head south to the theater, near the downtown area.

Wherewithal: Tickets are $15 at the door.

Where to call: (714) 496-1960.