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Grammy teaches children an
American dance
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The Secret Friend is a play about a
Friendship Doll named Grammy sent from America to Japan in 1927. Most of the play is
set during World War II, when the government authorities sought to have the
Friendship Dolls destroyed and burned since they came from the enemy. Grammy becomes "the secret
friend" of three students at the elementary school where she is
displayed in a glass case. The following are some comments by children who
have seen the play:
1st grader
Grammy was very cute. I want to see her again.
1st grader
Grammy at the beginning didn’t have any friends except one, but it
was great that in the end her rose bud opened and she made lots of friends. I
also want to dance together with Grammy. I was very impressed!
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Local government official tries
to take doll from Shizuko
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2nd grader
I was surprised when at 12 o'clock Grammy came to visit at Natsuki's
home. I wondered how Grammy was able to get outside. It was funny when they
answered the phone and the boys were playing with brooms like they were
fighting with swords. I cried a little bit.
2nd grader
It was good that Grammy was not burned. It was great that Grammy's
flower bloomed when she made lots of friends. I cried during the last part of
the play. I also want to meet Grammy. I think that the stuffed panda I have at
home is alive, but I do not really believe it. When I saw this story, I started
to come to believe it. Grammy, please come to visit my house. I'll introduce
you to my panda. If you can, please do not come at midnight, but rather
sometime in the morning. I can only play on Tuesdays and Fridays.
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Finale with everyone dancing
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3rd grader
I thought it was sad that the dolls were
destroyed and burned even though Americans gave these dolls because they
wanted to be friends with Japanese people. I would like to have a doll like
Grammy. I thought that Grammy's flower brooch would really bloom, so I was
really happy when it bloomed. I also think I would like to chat with a doll.
3rd grader
I was surprised that the picture drawn by Natsuki was the same as the
paper doll made by Grandma Shizuko. I wanted to see the blue-eyed doll come
out of the case. It was very sad when Shizuko heard that the blue-eyed doll
would be burned.
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Shizuko's friend Kenta explains
to local government official why
Grammy should not be destroyed
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4th grader
Shizuko, Grammy, Shizuko's friend, Kenta, and the boy who played with
Kenta were very funny. I cried when Grammy was about to be burned. The
funny parts and the sad parts of the play were very well acted. I also want to
try on Grammy's dress one time.
4th grader
To everyone in the Urinko Theater Group, thank you for showing The
Secret Friend to us. I was excited to find out who would be the secret
friend. When I asked my mother, I was surprised to find out that the Blue-eyed
Dolls were really sent to Japan.
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73-year-old Shizuko
meets Grammy again
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5th grader
I thought that the adults in the play, whatever role they played, did a
great job in acting like true children. I was a little bit scared that the
doll Grammy really seemed to move at night. My eyes were full of tears when
they brought Grammy to be burned. But I was impressed when I found out that
the teacher who stopped Shizuko hid Grammy in a storeroom.
5th grader
When I saw this play, I was glad that there were such nice people even
when the U.S. and Japan were at war. I thought the play was fiction, so I was
surprised when I heard it was a true story when I asked my teacher.
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Grammy (left) talks with Shizuko (right)
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6th grader
I thought Urinko Theater Company was great when I saw a play two years ago. This story
about the doll Grammy was very good. Now relations between America and Japan
are good, but a long time ago they fought a war against each other, and I
realize that is was bad that people would go to the point of burning the dolls
given by the people of America. I thought one part of the play was the
funniest. It was when the two boys were playing like they were fighting each
other with swords. A long time ago they must have played like that. If the doll
could really appear, I would want to meet her just once.
6th grader
When I saw this play, I strongly felt I should treasure my friends. The
play emphasizes the idea that even though you can not get together with your
friends, you may be able to meet them again someday.
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