How to Fold a Paper Crane

First find a sheet of paper – search for it with determination
You’ll find it, I promise.
Like I found a Macbeth to become Mozart.
An Ariel for spiritual music.
Two pillars to support the lofty ideas.
Be innovative:
Shy vernacular newspaper looks amazing.
Just like hardworking actors with linguistic hesitation.
Trust me, they’ll look splendid.
So does un-textured new paper
which claims to know nothing - having no creases,
But this will give you the most crisp crane.
Then, hold a corner and fold it,
Crease it firmly and cut out a square.
See, we begin with a square with four corners.
Like those four colleagues who stood by you from the beginning.
And don’t forget the four equal sides,
Be open to equality – let first years write your script,
let second years add dramatic, new details.
But ensure that the crease is exactly where you envisioned it.
Now fold it into a triangle -
Yes, the one with three ends.
Name one acting, the other music and the last one production.
Get people to ensure that the crease is definite.
Now, another triangle – add nuances
Go for detailed nomenclature – sets, costumes and props.
Collapse the edges and make a square-
No, you are not moving in circles.
There will be times when you’ll feel
that nothing is evolving.
But have faith on your paper,
your shapes, creases, corners – they’ll guide you.
Its like germination -
it looks the same but it is growing rapidly.
Join the open sides and fold the closed ends –
it now looks like a flower bud.
But don’t be lazy – you want a crane not a bud.
Be patient – even though panic is surfacing.
Make two more creases and then -
open it.

It will look almost futile -
your paper will start groaning.
Like the actors did when they got bored of exercises
and meditation and character development.
But tell them the logic behind the creases,
tell them to trust your process -
Origami is all about the process.
Like theatre.
And now comes the tricky bit -
the collapse.
Take a leap of faith and go ahead,
make the square collapse into a diamond.
Use all your skills – individual and collective.
Ensure that the folds are exact.
Get a George with two stud henchmen.
Get a Sachu. Get masks couriered.
Make the two pillars take a lot of weight.
You must test your creases and folds.
Ensure that you remember everything you’ve done.
Documentation helps.
And now fold the legs and make then pointed,
sharpen the details.
Like stalling the runs and doing individual work.
Getting tailor-made costumes,
specific make-up.
Rejecting posters till you get what you want.
Cauliflowers are not what you want.

Then give the legs a crisp, angular fold,
Things will be in control now.
Invert the legs sideways and tuck them in.
You can almost see your crane taking shape.
The pillars have been sturdy, the painting is here.
So are the lights and the songs and Shravya’s sets.
Helen is also over – the dancing should begin now.

But I prefer a flying paper crane and so:
Fold the diamond and you’ll get wings,
Make the crease not in the middle but slightly lower,
aesthetics and logic might not be congruent.
But you have your paper crane.
Display it and the audience
will help you give the final tiny fold.
This fold becomes the head.
At times it doesn’t look like one.
But its like the first show -
relax and adjust the folds.
Resting on your palm is a paper crane.

Now, give it to me.
I’ll have your crane.
It’s mine now.
You can have my Sabha.
It’s yours.


- Chhayankdhar Singh Rathore