Pooh Bear is a fuzzy, golden puff full of positive wonderment whose honey addiction still roils little bellies with laughter at Adventure Theatre MTC’s Winnie the Pooh, a sweet stroll through the One Hundred Acre Wood with old friends.
They have so much to do in one day. Rabbit (Stephen Murray) has hatched a plan to “borrow” little Roo from Kanga, Winnie the Pooh (Derrick Truby Jr.) and Piglet (Billie Krishawn) want to catch a Hefalump, and Piglet means to throw Eeyore (Sally Horton) a proper birthday. How will it all get done?
Rabbit is a bit mean (but didn’t we already know that?), and Eeyore is still the down-in-the-dumps donkey. Piglet is pretty nervous, all in pink, and Krishawen is the shows’ MVP as the sweet little critter, who always seems a bit more center stage than Pooh. She also doubles as the energetic Roo and the wise Owl, whose Jamaican accent and colorful headdress add fun touches to what could be a stuffy erudite.
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Truby’s Pooh is a squishy guy in all the right ways—kind and easy going and approachable. Murray doubles as Christopher Robin, who pops in, as always, at fortuitous moments, saving the day and helping his friends out of tight spots. Quite literally. And Horton also takes on Kanga, using a perfect Australian accent and running around as the Woods’ resident mom, even giving poor Piglet a dreaded bath.
All the songs are snippets, short little ditties that don’t take too much focus for minimal attention spans, as wee ones are ought to have. Horton, as Eeyore, singing about life as a donkey is a highlight. The show doesn’t feature much dancing, but the set is a colorful playground, complete with tree house, sand pit, and swing, which director Shirley Serotsky finds plenty of play and hiding spaces for her cast.
This show skews on the young side—noted by the 8-9 year-old behind me who declared he was not really into it. But, all the littles seemed glued, and my own 3-year-old guest declared her approval at the end, saying she liked it, clapping at all the right moments, and staying fully awake the whole show. It gets funny for the adults about half way through, when the Jamaican Owl shows up, Piglet takes on some gumption to great affect, and Eeyore expresses pure delight (with his customary ho-hum tone) at his destroyed birthday present.
And, of course, all our favorite Pooh-isms come front and center. It is funny that a bear likes honey, indeed. A.A. Milne’s 1926 classic is still classic, for all the right reasons. This stage telling pulls from the first book Winnie-the-Pooh, which is why that T-I-G-G-E-R doesn’t turn up, and easily hones in on the timeless truism that people (or stuffed animals) from all walks can co-exists not just peacefully, but also as a chosen family.
“Does new mean bad?” Kanga asks near the end. “Life is full of new things all the time.”
A likable, cute telling perfect for the 7-and-under crowd, Winnie-the-Poohat Adventure theatre is great weekend fare.
Winnie the Pooh . Directed by Shirley Serotsky. Based on the book by A.A. Milne. Adapted for the stage by le Clanche de Rand. Featuring: Sally Horton, Bille Krishawn, Stephen Murray, Derrick Truby Jr., Julieta Gozalo, and Sylvern Groomes Jr. Production: Ayesis Clay, Assistant Director; Tiffany Holmes, Music Director; William Yanesh, Orchestrator; Ryan Sellers, Movement Director; Nephelie Andonyadis, Scenic Designer; Kenann Modjeska Quander; Brittany Shmuga, Lighting Designer; Kevin Alexander, Sound Designer; Andrea “Dre” Moore, Properties Designer; Lynda Bruce, Assistant Stage Manager; Elijah Whittles, Assistant Sound Designer; Aaron Haag, Master Electrician; and Amy Kellett, Scenic Charge. Stage Managed by Kirsten E. Parker. Produced by Adventure Theatre MTC . Reviewed by Kelly McCorkendale.
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