GOODNIGHT MOON by Chad Henry, adapted from the book by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd (Seattle Childrens Theatre/Young Peoples Theatre, 165 Front East). Runs to March 19, see schedule at youngpeoplestheatre.ca. $10-$42. 416-862-2222. Rating: NNNN
If your kids are between the ages of four and nine and grew up with Margaret Wise Browns bedtime classic Goodnight Moon (illustrated by Clement Hurd), theyre going to love the musical version now at Young Peoples Theatre.
And you will, too, if the book was part of your childhood.
Presented by Seattle Childrens Theatre and directed by Linda Hartzell, the show captures the bright visuals of Hurds illustrations. Writer/composer Chad Henry expands the simple narrative of Browns rhyming text into a series of delightful song and dance episodes that suggest period Hollywood films, vaudeville and circus.
While these references wont speak to the youngest viewers, parents will find these and other echoes, such as a Three Stooges routine, amusing. Their children will get off on the production surprising visuals and high energy.
Both age groups will be familiar with Bunnys (Mike Spee) struggle against going to bed, despite the Old Ladys (Vickielee Wohlbach) admonitions that its time for him to put down his head and turn off the light.
But Bunny creates many distractions to put sleep off. Toy animals and pictures come to life, as do a telephone, a rubbery lamp, several hyperactive clocks and various other inanimate objects in his Great Green Room, with the help of Spee, Wohlbach, Molli Corcoran and Auston James.
Puppets of various sorts, oversized storybooks, a talking red balloon and the stories of the Three Bears and Mother Gooses Hey Diddle Diddle all figure in the action. A cow tries several times to jump over the moon to a 40s boogie-woogie song a bright-eyed, laughing fire in the hearth inspires some corny jokes that children love and the trio of bears come to visit wearing tap shoes and dance to Marianne Robertss choreography.
Of course, the show ends with the books text, Bunny saying good night to all the objects in his room.
Designers Jennifer Lupton (scenery), Catherine Hunt (costumes), Rick Paulsen (lighting) and Chris R. Walker (sound) add to the productions charm, as does the puppet work devised by Douglas N. Paasch and Annett Mateo.
The short songs, played by music director Jeff Bell, are largely effective, especially a lullaby-like tune with beautiful harmonics sung by four stuffed toys it has the quality of those mesmerizing pieces performed by Central European female choirs.
Still, not all the numbers work. A song about losing a tooth is bland, though it has a narrative payoff later in the show with the appearance of Fred Astaire-ish tooth fairy. Another tune about a miniature factory that produces stars for the sky is sentimental without touching the heart. Still, the visuals of stars and constellation that accompany its performance give viewers something worthwhile to watch.
The sure sign of a successful production for young audiences is viewers quietness if the kids are bored, youll hear it pretty quickly. During this 80 minute show, which includes a short intermission for stretching, I never sensed restlessness.
Goodnight Moon has two performances daily during March break, and YPT offers free activities that include a scavenger hunt and button making.
