For a lasting lesson on how a cow can really jump over the moon without violating the laws of physics, sit in on one of the performances of Goodnight Moon at the Seattle Children's Theatre, running now through June 7. Back by popular demand for its second time, the original adaptation of the well-loved children's book written by Margaret Wise Brown, offers children a little bit of everything that theatre has to offer. The story that is told through the magical performance also provides adults a glimpse into the 'little bit of everything' that may go on in the mind of a child at bedtime.
In Goodnight Moon, the great, green room and everything inside it is brought to life. Although the book is generally read to send children off to sleep, the play keeps its audience continually entertained -- if not enthralled -- by the vibrant imaginings of the main character, "Bunny." Bunny interacts with an array of characters and objects including a mouse, three musical bears, a cat and a fiddle, an old lady whispering hush, a little toy house, and of course, the moon. Even a bowl of mush has its moment. Inspiring musical numbers guide the audience along as Bunny experiences emotions ranging from fear of being left alone in the dark, the fun of playing musical chairs, the battle of wills between a child and parent, the eager anticipation of a night time visitor who is supposed to go unseen, and just simple sleepiness. Goodnight Moon is a remarkable, professional-level theatrical production that speaks to the enormous talent of its creators, cast and crew.
The son of Clement Hurd, the illustrator of the book, traveled from Europe to see the play during its initial running. He shared with the cast afterward that he believed his father and mother, who was also a gifted picture-book writer, would have loved it.
The entire cast and most of the crew is returned from the first running, a rare situation in the world of theater. Four actors - Matt Wolfe, Auston James, Sharva Maynard, and Jayne Muirhead - perform the parts for a total of 10 characters. Matt Wolfe, who plays Bunny (and whose mother's name, coincidentally, is Bunny), has been acting professionally for 14 years. He expressed that the most rewarding part of the production for him is making children in the audience laugh. "To get to be the one that provokes them is a pretty big gift," says Wolfe. The company is missing, however, one of their beloved associates, Puppet Master, Doug Paasch.
Paasch passed away, unexpectedly, late last year after being with Seattle Children's Theatre for more than 20 years. Wolfe said of Paasch that, "He had the ability like Jim Henson...to create whole worlds." Wolfe described how Paasch could transform foam, wire and cloth into "absolute magic for kids." The extensive use of puppetry in Goodnight Moon is a masterful showpiece of Paasch's work.
The Seattle Children's Theatre itself is a "precious commodity," Wolfe said. It is the second largest resident theater for young audiences in North America. Out of 11 shows per week of Goodnight Moon, 7 are performed solely for schools. "A lot of kids come through here who would never get a chance to see live theater otherwise," Wolfe said. Regarding theater, "it is the only kind of storytelling where you get this immediate, real exchange of heart and soul between[[In-content Ad]]
