Cardinal Stage Company brings the famous cookie-loving, house-wrecking mouse to life on stage at the Waldron Auditorium June 18th-27th.
Special kid-friendly performance times:10:00 am, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 7:00 pm
Herald-Times Review
THEATER REVIEW: ‘IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE’
First ‘Cardinal for Kids’ a fun and funny production
By Glenn KaufmannH-T Reviewer
June 21, 2010
In the first offering of its “Cardinal for Kids” series, Cardinal Stage Company unleashes a messy can of worms as it throws a responsible boy on stage with a mouse who means well, but just can’t seem to stay out of trouble.
Adapted from the children’s book of the same name, “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie” takes place in a home. It could be any home. The Boy, played with wit an charm by Cardinal regular McCarry Reynolds, could be any boy who finds himself trusted to be at home alone for the very first time.
The Boy wants nothing more than to curl up with a good comic book and relax. But, when a charming and seemingly benign mouse shows up and asks for a cookie, and a spot of milk to wash it down, and a napkin to tidy up, the Boy’s quiet incident-free first foray into adulthood slowly, hilariously crumbles and slips through his fingers.
Fortunately for the audience, it happens with big, bouncy, oversized props that knock things over and go poof, sending showers of confetti everywhere. And thanks to the gymnastic physicality of young Mr. Reynolds, and the slightly older Mike Price (hysterical as the Mouse), the show comes alive with larger than life gestures and characters that really sell the props and the show’s overall conceit.
Sarah Sandberg’s set and props provide the perfect playground for director Randy White and movement coach Adam Noble to work their magic, turning an everyday kitchen inside out and destroying any hope for the boy cleaning things up before his mother returns.
With such a small cast, and such a small world to inhabit, a large orchestra (two or more) would overpower the goings on on stage. Here again, director White has come up with a unique solution. From the dizzying soundtrack of a mouse’s dreams to the rattles of a comic book snake, all of the show’s music and sound effects are provided by one-man sound machine Tom Berich. Whipping back and forth from keyboard to steel drums to tin whistle, his is the frosting on an already very tasty cake.
But “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie” is not all fun and games. Amid the 6-foot crayons, 10-foot mops and 40-gallon milk jugs, there are quite a few lessons. The Mouse always says please, and thank you, and is most concerned about not being a “bother” to anyone. He (the mouse) is himself really a very good little boy who, in his own misguided way, teaches .The Boy how to look after something (or someone) less capable than himself.
Though it’s not really light frothy summer fare (unless you are between the ages of 3 and 10), “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie,” is a fun and funny short evening of kids theater. If you liked the book, you’ll enjoy the show. And if you’ve been looking for an easy way to introduce your children to theater, it doesn’t get any easier than this.
Information for families:
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is most enjoyed by families with children ages 3+.
Running Time: 35 minute Act I, 10 minute intermission, 28 minute Act II
Thank you Sponsors
Season Sponsor: First Financial Bank
Show Sponsor:Target, Hurlow Wealth Management Group
Additional Support: Psi Iota Xi
Media Sponsor: WFIU
Printing Sponsor: Rainbow Printing
Community Partners: Bloom Magazine, Bloomingfoods, Busick Design, Runskip, Indiana Arts Commission.
