By Debbie Decker
Imagine at Salt Lake City‘s Eccles Theater, a stage full of Eric Carle‘s best-loved characters, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and featuring Brown Bear. Imagine a room full of children who get to watch these storybook characters not only come to life, but are really big–human-sized. Puppets of Caterpillar and Brown Bear and more, sometimes being manipulated by two adults, graced the Eccles stage on Saturday and the kids who were there were amazed and delighted.
My grandson, husband, and I were able to attend The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show as part of the Live at the Eccles series. Before the show began, the children were told that their parents had to put their cell phones away or they’d go to time out. So funny and clever. Our seven-year-old Neeko was one of the older kids there, but there is plenty to keep children of most ages quite entertained. Six or seven puppets, played by people all in white, moving in front of a white background, surrounded by beautiful scenery with all of Carle’s delicious colors, dazzled us all. At one point, Neeko said, “The music is so peaceful.”
The set had doors and windows that opened. Something was going on all the time and the pace was quick but not frantic. The puppeteers encouraged the audience to repeat parts of the stories back. And though it is very much a spectacle show, we found it to be important on several levels. Carle’s stories have sweet messages. And events like this are a wonderful opportunity to invite children to attend and enjoy live theater. And at 50 minutes long, it is doable for even little littles.The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show is on tour and hopefully will inch its way back to Salt Lake at Live at the Eccles again sometime. It is a treat for all to see.
Live at the Eccles and the Eccles Theater present The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Created by Jonathoan Rockefeller, based on the book by Eric Carle.
George S and Dolores Dore Eccles Theater, 131 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (Tip: As with any show at the Eccles, if you can take Trax at least part of the way any headache (and payment) from parking can be avoided.)
January 12. 2019, 1:30 PM
Contact: 435-575-1300
Eccles Theater Facebook Page
Live at the Eccles Facebook Page
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show Facebook Event
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show Facebook Page
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