“Elephant & Piggie We Are In A Play” with assistance from Anna and Jack Bradle

***** My youngest grandchild, Rebecca, is now a sophomore in high school ( and might I add, the starting QB on the varsity Flag Football team), so I must rely on others for my reviews when it comes to Children’s Theatre. Luckily, I have the Bradles, Anna and her younger brother Jack. Luckily, mom , Fallon, has no problem bringing them to the venue and assisting them inputting  their thoughts to paper and sending to me with photos. As I have done before, I will give my synopsis and what I felt, and then add theirs.

The Young People’s Theatre Company of Chicago has been bringing superior work to the Greenhouse Theater Center on Lincoln Avenue. This morning, a full house of adults and children were witness to a sterling production of  a Mo Willems’ musical entitled “Elephant and Piggie’s: We Are In A Play!”. a delightful little story about besties, Elephant, Gerald ( a delightful interpretation and portrayal by Sam Shankman) and Piggie , named Piggie ( deftly handled by Diana Marilyn Alvarez).

The show is based on Willems series of books with added music Deborah Wicks La Puma. The play is directed by Randy White, who shows his love for children’s theater with his getting the audience involved throughout the hour ( roughly 60 minutes of action), but even more so in the last 13 minutes. It was vibrant and the energy flowed throughout the Greenhouse main stage and audience.

The story is about two best friends, their relationship and how they respect each other and their differences. There is also an ensemble, or more like a “Greek Chorus” ( or perhaps a back-up group like in “Little Shop Of Horrors”. These three singers/dancers are terrific and add a great deal of energy to the story. They are Squirrelles ,( Julia Limoncelli, Marta Bady and Lili Galluzzo) who are terrific.

The action is designed, as we expect in children’s stories, a message or a moral. This one celebrates friendship, of course, but also forgiveness and understanding. The musical numbers help to make understanding the messages for the kids ( but they might even help the adults, who in today’s world, need all the understanding they can get). I have not been exposed to Willem’s works for my grandkids, but thanks to YPT and last years; “Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus”, have a better idea of what he is trying to convey to our young population. I am quite thankful that Anna and jack knew the books and that Anna spent time reading the stories to Jack ( talk about friends!).

On the tech side,the set by Shane Cinal was creative with trees that opened up to doors and the costumes (Cindy Moon) allowed us to understand who the characters were. The lighting ( Kevin Rechner) and sound ( Newton Schottelkotte) were right on and the music ( directed by Danny Kapinos) and choreography (Matthew Weidenbener)  were quite unique. With a cast of five players ( four of whom are making their debuts) and a lot of action, this one hour of theater flies by fast. I can tell you that most of the kids were truly into it, having a blast. I think most of them knew the characters, but after 5 or so minutes, I was into it ( not bad for an 80 year plus guy).

Anna (age 7) and Jack (age 3)  absolutely loved Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are In a Play!” at the Greenhouse Theater. We are big fans of Mo Willem’s books, especially the Elephant and Piggie stories that my daughter loves to read to my son at bedtime.  We enjoyed seeing the live version of some of our favorite stories weaved into the play.  For the entire hour, the cast was able to hold the attention of littles in the audience with singing, dancing and some audience participation that the kids really enjoyed.  There were quite a few times that we laughed out loud, especially when Gerald and Piggie go back and forth with their dialogue.

After the show, they sell merchandise to benefit the Greenhouse Theater, so we left with a pair of stuffies of Gerald and Piggie.  Since getting home from the show the kids have been playing with them and using them to create their own stories.  We absolutely loved our morning at the theater and will be recommending this play to our friends!

“Elephant & Piggie- W Are In A Play” will continue thru Oct 19th with performances as follows: