If you closed your eyes and forgot that you were sitting in a dance studio in Fresno, if you closed your eyes and just listened, you would feel like you, too, were a child in Malaysia listening to the stories of Harold Nunis. If you closed your eyes, you too, could image the adventure and suspense of his stories of jungle-hunting trips gone wrong, magic trees that know lottery numbers and blood brothers who communicate through dreams.

These are the basis of "Lies My Father Told Me," a solo performance piece by local playwright Marcel Nunis, who weaves a vivid, engaging and highly detailed tale from the stories his dad told him as a kid.

If you opened your eyes, all that's there is Nunis sitting in a chair, next to a small table, assuming his role as family storyteller.

But it didn't seem that way. It seemed like so much more. Nunis transports his audience to another time and place, re-living the seemingly tall-tales passed down from father to son, much like in the 2003 Tim Burton movie, "Big Fish."

While Burton had a star cast and special effects, all Nunis has is well-thoughtout words. And that's more than enough, considering his engaging demeanor on stage and vivid writing.

The imagery comes easy. And the story-telling is fabulous. The only question is whether you believe Harold's stories.
To decide that, you must close your eyes, listen, and watch them for yourself.

"Lies My Father Told Me" plays again at 4 p.m. today, 7 p.m. Thursday and 5:30 p.m. Saturday.