Home

Things We Like

Fertility Center

Experts

Columns & Essays

Feature Articles

Community

ArtsPower National Touring Theatre
Cypress Creek FACE, February 2006

At my son's school, I'll bet I'm becoming known as "the mom who always wants us to go see plays." To his classmates' parents, that is... Most of them don't get it, which is too bad. Kids get it, though.

I am mysteriously fortunate (that's my new code for the politically incorrect "blessed") for having discovered local children's theater, in spite of just how bad the "dinner theater" I saw 30 years ago was (and possibly still is?)

Since we've been traipsing around to a number of local arts venues for about four years now, I feel qualified to be a critic.

One theater, rather lavish in production ability, doesn't entertain us very often because I don't like how we were spoken to by staff before a play. Children's theaters often open with a word (or two, or three, in this case) to the audience about such important tidbits as where the restrooms are and how to get to them during the show without disturbing your neighbor. It's good information and the audience deserves it, but nobody likes to hear a finger being wagged in their face. Tone, people, it's the tone...

Another theater, in an impoverished part of town that rarely sees middle class folks, is keen on involving the audience -- usually elementary-aged people -- which makes for some real fun. No, really, it's a blast (I can hear people reading that with a completely unintended tone of sarcasm,) and if you happen to have a little diva on your hands, you'll find out soon enough at these performances where their participation is invited.

Another, our favorite, does the most incredible things I've seen (theatrically speaking) with a tiny round space for a stage and a few boxes for props. Must be the acting.

The other day, a spur-of-the-moment choice to see a production at a new (to us) venue resulted in my sending out glowing emails the following morning to everyone involved, including the local hospital that sponsored the event in such a big way as to make it gratis for all.

The production: an adaptation of Paula Danziger's book, Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon (Amber Brown)

The cast & crew: the ArtsPower National Touring Theatre

The venue: Cypress Creek Foundation for the Arts & Community Enrichment (FACE), which holds performances in the Cypress Creek Christian Church

To this musical performance, I brought two little boys -- my own six year old and his seven year old buddy. I knew only from my previous work in a library (years ago) that Paula Danziger wrote a ton of books for children and, therefore, I assumed that her stories are popular. I was not aware of the powerful connection that this particular story would have on these two boys -- both of whom have experienced divorcing parents and moving friends.

The story was told by four actors, portraying Amber, her schoolmates, and family. The actors were energetic and youthful enough to prompt a later question (the cast graciously consented to a Q&A session following the show) about their actual ages (all post-college age, prompting raised eyebrows from the younger audience.) The original songs were funny and engaging, and each performer was up to the challenge of mixing microphoned singing with fast-moving choreography and set-changing through this romping one-act play.

A touring show has to depend on good matches between their technical needs and what the venue can provide for lights and sound. In this case, the match worked. While my aging ears picked up a tad of echo at first, it was either resolved or my ears adjusted within the first 10 minutes. The sanctuary in which FACE presents its offerings is filled with comfortable theater seats, but a warning to parents with toddlers -- the spring-loaded, folding seats are so new that they'll swallow up someone who is under 50 pounds.

Fortunately, I had two "big" guys with me.

Big guys with big eyes that were noticeably entranced throughout the show's rendition of Danziger's book about a little girl from a divorced family whose best friend is moving out of state.

Sounds sad... It was a hoot! The songs ("Eeew, you're gross! Really? Thanks!") and the fun-poking banter among good friends (and classmates who might be described otherwise) were on target. I could almost hear my two companions thinking, "That sounds just like us -- how do they know we say that?" They were hooked. Then came the heavier plot -- Amber reveals that all of this moving stuff (her friend Justin's dad has a new job in Alabama, far from New Jersey in lots of ways) reminds her of how deeply she misses her dad since her parents' divorce. She decides, like many people in her shoes would, that she'll just not get close to anyone ever again. After all, they all leave.

Can you imagine presenting such thoughts to first graders and having them actually listen with both eyes focused on you intently? Heavy stuff, very uncomfortable feelings. The kind of stuff that causes parents to invent all sorts of creative ways to either communicate -- or try to sweep it under the rug.

But my guys heard it here, from a stage that was no more than 10 feet from our seats. From characters that came off as real.

In the end, Amber gets okay with change. She and Justin decide that they can remain friends forever, even if from afar, and Amber softens to more phone calls with dad, too.

Not being a "child of divorce," I can never know from personal experience what my son or his friend think and feel about this part of their lives. What I do know is that the message presented to them by ArtsPower and Paula Danziger in a way they could hear is that their thoughts and feelings are not unusual. And that makes everyone feel good.

If you're mysteriously fortunate enough to have a local children's theater nearby, take advantage of what they can communicate to your children. I could go on and on (and I sometimes do) about the importance of patronizing the local arts and demonstrating community support to your kids. And about the type of fun that is unique to small theater -- so unique, that I daresay it's something your children will never know if all they ever get to see is movies and even larger theatrical productions. About how smaller, more intimate productions can promote in your child a better understanding of the difference between entertainment and reality, in addition to really giving them a sense that even they could be an actor if they choose. Or a writer. I could go on.

Just trust me -- skip the Disney resorts. Visit your local children's theater.

Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon