By Jennifer Mustoe
On entering the wonderful Parker Theatre‘s Black Box (just north of the larger theatre) we enter the hundred acre wood that houses a puppet stage, and we are transported to the magical world of Winnie the Pooh. I was accompanied by my daughter-in-law Hannah and my granddaughter, six-year-old Lucy. When I tell you we were delighted beyond what I can describe, it is the truth. The Parker Theatre brings us an entertaining production about the silly old bear and his friends that is touching, hilarious, and darling for young and old.
We are introduced to this magical world by Narrator (Sean Sweeny) and so begins our story. He introduced us to The Hundred Acre Wood and to the actor playing Pooh, Trevor Bird. Sweeny has Bird show the audience how the puppets work, which started the magic but keeps the show grounded. This is a puppet show, and Bird is a charming Pooh. Sweeny then gives some instructions to the children (stay on the green area that is the back half of the stage) and the ingenious direction to have the kiddos (and adults) make noises only when he directs them to as part of the story.
Sweeny is very in tune with his young audience as he sits in his chair and reads the now familiar tales. From time to time, he rises to watch the puppets, but the show is staged such that he seems surprised that his tales are being enacted in a puppet stage to his left.
Christopher Robin, played by Milo Stebbing is darling, his bright smile and infectious enthusiasm wonderful to experience. Stebbing jumps around like the kid he is in front of the puppet stage, then scoots back and works the Christopher Robin puppet with a professionalism I was surprised to see. At first, Hannah and I thought he was voicing the part and an adult was working the puppet. No. Stebbing winningly steps into both parts of the role.
The Winnie the Pooh cast of characters make their way onto (or is it behind?) the stage and it is truly fantastical. Adults and children laughed and clapped (and made noises like bees and rain when told to do so.) I’m sure some of the children are only acquainted with the Disney version of this classic literature, but those of us who read the adventures of Pooh and his family of friends nodded and smiled often. You could feel the warmth of familiarity in the room.
The puppet masters/actors are as follows: Eeyore and Kanga by True Leavitt, Piglet and Roo by Taylor McKay Barnes, and Tigger and Owl by Laurel Morgan. Applause goes to these actors for the ability to play such diverse characters and their proficiency operating the puppets. Each actor embraced their roles and I for one was convinced these puppets are real, just like I believed the Pooh characters all existed when I was read these stories as a child by my mother and teachers. The puppets cavort and dance and it is really magical. Co-Director in charge of the creation of the puppets and instruction for the actors on the mechanics of puppetry is Larissa Anderson. Her stick puppets are charming, with moving parts that made us all giggle.
The set, designed by James Parker and constructed with care by Parker and Paul Petersen, is so amazingly sweet, with trees beside the puppet stage window. We are pulled in as we gaze through the window, feeling like we are a part of their stories. It’s just our friends playing outside while we fondly watch from the window.
Director Madeline Thatcher has created a world that we love to enter. It is not necessary to be familiar with A.A. Milne‘s Winnie-the-Pooh book, written in 1926, a compilation of short stories Milne penned from stories he told to his son, Christopher Robin. But Ashton’s caring and deliberate direction gave us a special experience that I will never forget. How she could take the wooden puppets and give her actors such kind, fun direction so we believe these characters jumped out of Milne’s stories is a wonder to behold.
Hannah and I discussed this remarkable little production with patrons sitting near us during intermission, and Hannah said she described Parker Theatre’s funny little show as “cozy.” This is a perfect word for it. Lucy said she loved the heffalumps (so many of them in a shadow effect) and the characters popping out of the side windows in the set. Parker Theatre requests that age 4+ attend. Parker Theater and the cast are creating a safe and creative space for children, taking their description of children’s theater very seriously. All of it really is cozy and endearing, and the kids watching from the seats and the floor all looked mesmerized and happy.
At The Parker Theatre’s Winnie the Pooh puppet show, you will be transfixed and transported to the beautiful fictional world of Winnie-the-Pooh and feel the warmth and tenderness of this lovely story. Bring your whole family and be entertained and enthralled.
One last note: Parker Theatre supplies DELICIOUS homemade treats for purchase. We shared two of the brownies and they were chewy and chocolatey and scrumptious. Yum and double yum!
The Parker Theatre presents Winnie the Pooh, a Theatre for Young Audiences Puppet Show, Directed and Adapted by Madeline Thatcher and Larissa Anderson.
The Parker Theatre, 3605 South State Street, South Salt Lake, UT 84115
Saturday April 29, 2023 and May 6 2023, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM The show is approximately one hour with an intermission. There is seating on three sides and a seating area on the stage for kiddos and anyone(!)
Tickets: $8.00 children, $10.00 adults
Contact: boxoffice@parkertheatre.org, 801-532-6000
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Also don’t miss The Parker Theatre’s The Pirates of Penzance, playing until May 13, 2023. Read our review here.
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