JJ, an inquisitive 11 year old, dreams of becoming a rich and famous treasure hunter and hits the jackpot when she buys a mysterious box from a garage sale. Once she gets home the box magically opens and inside she finds a Raven mask wrapped in an old Chinese opera poster. JJ takes the mask and poster to a junk shop, hoping they’re worth something. Mr. Wheeler, the greedy junk dealer, slyly tells her they’re fakes and yet still wants to buy them. Suspicious, JJ refuses to sell. Determined to get a higher price, she sets out on an adventure and discovers a complex history behind the artifacts that reaches far beyond their market value.

Aiding her on this quest are the spirits of the Raven (First Nations) and the Monkey King (Chinese), who were trapped in the box for ninety years but were released when JJ opened it. These tricksters, renowned in their respective cultures, share their stories and life lessons and guide JJ to understand that the value of money pales in comparison to the values of family and history. Past and present all join together in a rollicking tale of how our lives are transformed by the people we meet, the choices we make and the stories we tell.
 

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“Great—all ages loved it!” – Riverdale Elementary

“Liked the messages, liked the dancing, liked the inclusion of Aboriginal and Chinese culture” – Mt. Lehman Elementary

“My students and I enjoyed your performance… It kept them enthralled for a good, solid hour. Not at all a small feat in today’s ten second snap shots. I especially appreciated the inclusion of the two cultural views—both of course as important to the founding and development of our province. It was perfectly suited to an elementary audience”
– Kent Elementary