A simple magical velveteen story
The Velveteen Rabbit is having trouble fitting in with the other toys in the nursery. He wants to know when he will become really Real. “Generally by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”
The Velveteen Rabbit is a musical adaption of Margery Williams’ children’s story of the same name. Just like the original story book, the stage version is a quiet and pleasant piece that might rock you to sleep if you aren’t entranced. It is the story of a toy velveteen rabbit that is received by a small boy one Christmas. The rabbit struggles to find a place in the world of a child’s room and is sustained by the hope that one day he may become Real.
With a cast of two (Darina Vassiliev, Amy Fisher), we are led with smiles, songs, robot and racing car impressions through the adventures of the small furry rabbit and his boy. With simple lighting, sound and set design, the play is charming and is suited for an early childhood demographic.
All the children in the audience stayed engaged and were fascinated by the use of video projection in bridging sequences and the animated pencil illustrations (Anna Klimova). At times both the songs and video pieces went a little too long for the junior audience.
The Velveteen Rabbit produced by Tilkin-Dilkin Studio & Imaducation Inc is overall a lovely little show that caters for a preschool demographic. It is exactly what it proclaims to be, a lovely piece of small scale musical theatre that summons the childhood belief that with love and loss of stuffing our toys are Real.
Christina Donoghue: Theatre Now & Talking Arts
Recommended for ages 4+
| WHEN: | Saturday 23 September 2017 – 12.00pm & 2.00pm Sunday 24 September 2017 – 12.00pm & 2.00pm |
WHERE: The HPG Festival Hub (225 Euston Road, Alexandria)
RUNNING TIME: 45 minutes
PRICE: $25.20; Group of 6 – $22.20
BUY TICKETS: https://www.iwannaticket.com.au/event/the-velveteen-rabbit-musical-show-MTM1NzU
