Peter and the Wolf

Peter and the Wolf
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
March 10, 2019

Peter and the Wolf has become a regular concert on the Colorado Symphony’s schedule. This classic work is the perfect way to introduce children to classical music. This year they added the Magic Circle Mime Company to help tell the story.

Before the concert began, we were introduced to Maggie who demonstrated a great ability to communicate despite not speaking. She yielded to the symphony for Light Calvary Overture. The piece was meant to familiarize the children in the audience with the instruments, but judging from the noise in the audience they were bored.

The presentation of Peter and the Wolf was a different matter. Maggie acted out the part of Peter and, in an inspired move, the musicians playing the instruments stood in front of the rest of the symphony, which made the story easier to follow. Conductor Christopher Dragon got in on the fun by playing Peter’s mean grandmother.

With the musicians “acting” out the story, the music played without interruption. But the story was not lost on anyone. The appearances of the wolf around the concert hall and finally onstage were exciting and not too scary for kids.

The concert was exactly what it was supposed to be: an entertaining introduction to what instruments sound like alone and as part of the symphony.

The Basque Things in Life

The Basque Things in Life
Bitsy Stage
Denver, CO
March 1 – April 15, 2019

This season, the Bitsy Stage has its cultural focus on immigrants. The Basque Things in Life introduced the audience to the Basque people from northern Spain and their mythology, particularly the Lamiaks.

In the story we saw through the eyes of Soriona and learned the story of the Lemiak with her. These woodland spirits were pretty ladies with duck feet. While the costume feet were not terribly realistic, but we got the idea.

The cast created believable relationships with great chemistry between them all. The parents were loving, even though they did not see eye to eye; the family friend was a warm addition. At the center of it all was the change in the mother and daughter bond.

The set was charming. The pre show set up featured the outside of a house and a mountain with a waterfall. When the performance began the house was turned around to show the interior. The pieces gave the family real “work” to do, including a working pump for washing dishes and preparing coffee. The waterfall on the mountain created a small pool where several characters soaked their feet. That realistic aspect of using water on the set kept the audience focused on the story.

The story left behind two timely messages. The first was the importance of immigrants holding on to the culture that makes them unique. The other is the value of family and their time spent together. Given the audience, it was a valuable lesson.

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood
Boulder Opera
Nomad Playhouse
Boulder Colorado
December 8-9, 2018

Every December, Boulder Opera presents a short opera designed for young audiences. It is a wonderful opportunity to expose young children to opera without losing their attention. This year’s performance was Little Red Riding Hood.

Before the show was a short introduction to opera terms, including a lesson in Bravo, Brava and Bravi. It set the stage for a first opera experience.

The set of the show was wildly creative. The entire stage was covered with artificial grass with flowers near the edge. A small house was nestled in one corner.

Little Red was pretty and exuberant. She easily engaged the audience. The Wolf, on the other hand, was charming and obviously up to no good. His baritone was deliciously dark in tone. A group of children played the woodsmen. Some were more talented than others, but they played their roles well.

Midway through the show was another instruction session. That took away from the momentum of the show. Especially considering there was a question and answer session afterwards as well.

The intimate Nomad Playhouse was an ideal place for this show. The only issue was at the end during he cast meet and greet in the tiny lobby. But the performers stayed around until every child had a chance to speak with their favorite character.

Aloha

Aloha
Bitsy Stage
Denver, CO
October 12 – November 18, 2018

The Bitsy Stage has made itself known for taking world fables and bringing them to life for audiences. Aloha, a collection of Polynesian tales featuring the demi-god Maui, was well timed after the success of Disney’s Moana last year.

As always, the space was transformed to fit the location. The set was particularly ingenious – a three sided island in the middle what easily rolled to reveal a new tropical location.

Maui was played by a talented actress. She cleverly never played the role as male or female – merely a person. This took away any thought about gender throughout the performance. The rest of the cast quickly changed characters and costumes for each scene. Their versatility was impressive.

Short Polynesian dances and songs were inserted between scenes giving it the feel of a luau. Set changes were quick and the limited props were used to their advantage. A boat with the actors’ legs clearly visible was used for the full comic effect.

Aloha was an enjoyable show that appealed to all the ages present. Once again, the Bitsy Stage has created a fun lesson about culture.

A Hymn to the Goddess

A Hymn to the Goddess
Bitsy Stage
Denver, CO
May 18 – June 18, 2018

It has become the tradition of the Bitsy Stage to create theatrical pieces featuring the folklore for children of all ages. The shows are increasingly difficult to get tickets for. Their latest offering A Hymn to the Goddess sold out the entire run before it even opened.

This show was not as action oriented as those we have seen in the past. The storytelling device was an archeologist telling her much younger assistant the myths of Isis and Osiris. There was little humor or action, so the story seemed a bit slow.

The show was well acted. Isis was deliberate and seductive and Set was mysterious and deliberate. The other supporting gods were less intriguing, but still worth watching.  The costumes for the show were lovely in detail. It was a compelling moment when the younger archeologist dressed as Set, the villain.

As always, the production featured a simple set which transformed to exotic locations. The beginning where Isis made ruins into building again was an interesting start, if a bit clunky in execution.

Egyptian mythology is less familiar and more psychological than others, so the stories created a more mysterious and more thought provoking play. It may not have the appeal to younger children as other Bitsy shows, but it brought the eternal themes of Egypt to  life in modern day.

Pirates of the Symphony Seas

Pirates of the Symphony Seas
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
May 6, 2018

This season the Buntport Theatre has been presenting Siren Song, a serialized story of pirates in Ancient Schmeece. For the concert Pirates of the Symphony Seas, they brought the show to a larger audience and set it to familiar classical music.


The show started with the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean with conductor Christopher Dragon dressed on a festive red jacket and pirate hat. After that introduction, the play started. It was a silly story of pirates in search of a captain and their encounter of the dreaded siren. It was a fun show that never took itself too seriously. The action was framed with musical interludes by famous composers such as Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Grieg.  They also added "The Eye of the Tiger" for a bit of fun.


This was a different type of performance by the symphony. It was more theatrical than most but judging by the audience reaction, it was a fun afternoon for all the families who attended.

Jotunheim

Jotunheim
Bitsy Stage
Denver, CO
February 22 – April 8, 2018


The Bitsy Stage has made its name presenting folk tales from around the world in format that is easily accessible for audiences of all ages. While their latest show Jotunheim is advised for ages eight and older, it did not change that focus.

Billed as a heavy metal musical, Jotunheim presented Nordic tales of Thor and his Hammer. The costumes were dark with a decidedly steampunk influence. Aside from the well-known Beatles song “Blackbird,” the music was original to the show. With a live electric guitar, the audience could feel the music just as much as they heard it.

The characters were the strength of the show. Thor was not a blonde Adonis but an arrogant and often confused figure. Odin was strong and unapproachable while Loki was goofy and tricky, but certainly not a villain. Freya was the most enjoyable character as a strong woman who wanted to be known for her brains more than her beauty.

The script was simple but fun. It brought a loft myth to a realistic level. Once again, the Bitsy Stage has highlighted how people are more similar than we are different.

How I Became A Pirate

How I Became A Pirate
Inspire Creative
PACE Center
Parker, CO 
March 9, 2018

While not a classic musical, How I Became a Pirate is a show many parents chose to introduce their children to live theatre. It was set up perfectly for that - the subject matter was definitely kid-friendly, the run time was only and hour and there was a question and answer session afterwards. So the audience was filled with young families.

The story followed the adventures of Jeremy Jacob after a chance meeting with the pirate Braid Beard. He quickly found himself as a valuable member of the crew as they searched for buried treasure.

It was unfortunate that the cast did not contain any female characters. After all, there were female pirates. The only female onstage was portraying Jeremy Jacob. She did a convincing job of portraying a boy. The rest of the cast were enjoyable to watch with all their quirks.

The storyline was easy to follow, however the song lyrics did tend to contain more robust language that smaller children might have had trouble understanding.

The set seemed amateurishly simple until the curtain opened to reveal an impressive pirate ship. Even more enjoyable was hearing the cast discuss how they assemble and reassemble it on every stop on their tour.

While not the perfect show for little ones, How I Became a Pirate, was a fun show for families.

Siren Song

Siren Song: A Pirate Odyssey
Buntport Theatre
Lakewood, CO 
October 14, 2017 - May 12, 2018

Buntport Theatre has been presenting one hour episodes of Siren Song since last fall. While it is not essential to see every episode to follow the plot of each episode, once you see one, they become strangely addictive.  This month’s episode was based on Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

The transition from the last episode to this one was a bit choppy. But those who have been following along were filled in early in. The plot for the Thriller show was completely different from the previous one I had seen. But it was just as funny.

Captain Cruelboots was not in this section, but Terry and Neville returned. The audience also met the God of Recorders and Priscilla the Thriller, who fit into the ridiculous cocktail. The new characters played off the established quirks of the familiar ones.

While the story line about daydream boxes was fun, it was the recreation of the Thriller dance at the end which brought the house down.

Siren Song

Siren Song: A Pirates Odyssey
Buntport Theatre
Lakewood, CO 
October 14, 2017 - May 12, 2018

Buntport Theatre’s Siren Song is a serialized pirate play for all ages. Each episode incorporates a pop song for added challenge to the creative team. This month’s song was “Country Roads, Take Me Home” by John Denver. The show started with a video presenting a snippet of the song with the lyrics. As it turned out, those lyrics were instrumental to the show.

 The script writers did a great job of creating a story that can be easily followed, even if you missed the previous episodes. The sets were cleverly created, providing multiple playing spaces. The pirate ship was raised allowing for scenes underwater. And “Mountain Momma’s” home was quickly assembled each time she appeared.

The cast were all talented, delivering believable performances in the midst of silly situations. Despite not seeing other episodes, the characters were easy to figure out. And they all seemed to be having as much fun as the audience!

At the conclusion of the performance was an eager anticipation to return to find out how it all ends up. The cast greeted the audience as they left, taking time to interact with everyone.

Cendrillon

Cendrillon
Boulder Opera
Stewart Auditorium
Longmont, CO
December 3-8, 2017

Cendrillon is an opera based on the Cinderella story. It is not as well known as the Rossini version La Cenerentola. The Boulder Opera production gave audiences a look at this lesser performed work. Unlike the Rossini version, this one fully embraced the fairy tale nature of the story by including the fairy godmother and two fairy sprites to help her.

The fairy godmother’s arias were quite impressive. There were hints of the Queen of the Night in her songs, but they were perfect in the context of the magical happenings around her. The sprites were an enjoyable addition. The performers appeared to throughly enjoy the magic and mischief they provided to the story. The addition of a handful of girls from the audience during one of the fairy godmother’s scene was distracting.

The stepsisters were also fun to watch. Their reactions and preening were so funny that occasionally they took the focus off of the action in the story.

The oddest part of this opera is that the role of the Prince was written for a soprano, meaning it must be played by a woman. This was awkward at best. While the singer did her best to appear as a man, it wasn’t convincing. And in the duets with Cinderella, it was difficult to distinguish Cinderella’s part from the prince.

The set was fairly bland and simple. However, the elaborate costumes made up for much of that. Nothing was more stunning than Cinderella’s voluminous ball gown.

I was surprised that despite that the show was part of their Family series the opera was performed in French. The biggest issue with the production was the subtitles. They were projected at the back of the stage. While they were easy to read, it meant the children who cannot read yet were left to rely on their parents to read to them. But, as it turned out, the subtitles were poorly set up, at times there were typos in them. Frequently the translation for hopelessly behind the action. For the final scene, they completely gave up on them, leaving the audience to guess at what was happening.

Despite the difficulties, the audience seemed charmed with the show. As an additional treat, all of the performers appeared in the lobby for meet and greets after the show.

Anansi

Anansi
The Bitsy Stage
Denver, CO
October 27 - December 17, 2017

The Bitsy Stage’s commitment to sharing folk tales from around the world continued with their newest show Anansi. The intimate theater transformed into a dark jungle with thoughtful decorations. Foliage was draped over the entire room and the stage line was marked with a web pattern.

Anansi was a collection of folk tales and each one was told through a different form of theater. One story was a radio play, another a puppet show – other forms included ensemble acting and dance.

The cast of the show was top notch. Each actor morphed into various character before our eyes with only slight costume changes. The skits were funny and intriguing, keeping even the youngest members of the audience engaged.

The set was truly remarkable in this tiny space. Webs raised and lowered, creating swings and ladders. The lights created the time of day and showed the passage of time and change of scenery.
The Bitsy Stage is considered to be children’s theater but there was plenty for adults to enjoy. The quality of the performances, the writing and the presentation created a theatrical experience that everyone will love.

Cinderella

Cinderella
Opera Colorado
PACE Center
Parker, CO 
November 11, 2017

Opera Colorado’s touring production of Cinderella created the perfect opportunity to introduce children to opera. The show was performed by the young artists program in an abridged format especially for children.

The sets for the show were simple but effective. The cast moved furniture quietly and effectively and the backdrop opened up to reveal the prince’s castle. The costumes communicated each character’s position and Cinderella’s ball gown was as beautiful as each child imagined.

The performances of each singer were impressive. The singing and the acting were equally strong, making each character believable. The songs were sung in English, allowing the audience to follow along easily.

The one hour running time was just right for the young audience and there were no obvious gaps in the story. At the end of the show was a question and answer period which was painfully short for such a large audience. It would have been better to eliminate that portion than disappoint most of the children who wanted to ask questions.

The Silent Princess

The Silent Princess
The Bitsy Stage
Denver, CO
May 5 - June 11, 2017

The Bitsy Stage is a small jewel nestled in an industrial park near I-25 and Santa Fe. But don’t let its size fool you. Inside is an intimate theater worth making a trip for.

The Silent Princess is based on a Turkish fable – one not familiar to many Western audiences. On the stage was a tent made up of colorful scarves and decorated by strings of light. The seats resembled Persian rugs. Before the show began, two musicians played to set the mood. It was an immersive experience.

The play moved at a quick pace. The dialogue was intelligent and clever. While many actors played multiple characters, their costumes made keeping them straight easy. While the story had some gruesome elements, the humor of the writing kept the mood light.

The show was only an hour long, yet it was ample time for good character development. With a combination of character narration and dialogue, each character’s true nature was evident. The story was complex and yet not over the heads of the children in the audience.

The costumes were colorful and beautiful and the simple set was designed to morph into many locations. The few songs sprinkled throughout added richness to the atmosphere. The talent of the performers was impressive. After the show they were all available for pictures and autographs.

The Bitsy Stage offers performances on Saturdays only. Tickets are free but reservations are required.

Peter and the Wolf

Peter and the Wolf
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
February 12, 2017

The Colorado Symphony offers many opportunities to introduce children to classical music. Their presentation of Peter and the Wolf was less gimmicky than their other family concerts this season, but it was no less interesting to young audiences
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From the moment conductor Christopher Dragon walked on stage, he was the center of attention. His hair was standing up on end, making him look like a mad scientist. But it was his antics on stage that stole the show.

His energetic direction of the symphony became an extension of the music. His wild facial expressions matched the tone of each piece and his body movements evoked the action the story told. During the less familiar pieces his conduction kept the attention of the children in the audience. After the William Tell Overture, he rested as if he had just taken part in the horse chase.

For Peter and the Wolf, a narrator was brought on to tell the story. The timing between the narrator and the symphony was perfect. The combination easily led the audience through the musical themes that young children might miss.

While this concert was heavier on the classical side, it was still a wonderful opportunity to introduce children to the symphony. Christopher Dragon’s charisma made the music fun for all.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Little Foxes 
The Aurora Fox Theater
Aurora, CO
June 9-25, 2015


The Little Foxes, the children’s theater program at the Aurora Fox Theater, presents matinee performances through the summer. Their first offering this year is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It’s robust material for an hour-long child-performed play. However, the Little Foxes proved to be up for the challenge.

Since most of the characters are animals, the costuming proved creative and just believable enough. The set was well thought out. As an audience member, I appreciated the care taken to immerse the child actors and audience in the world of Narnia.

Naturally, some of the child performances were stronger than others. At times dialog was difficult to hear. But overall, it was an impressive effort by all involved.

The audience was filled with children, some who had read the book and many who had not. This production managed to delight them all.

Coppelia

Coppelia
Denver Ballet Theater
PACE Center
Parker, CO 
April 21-22, 2015

I've seen  many classic ballets over the years, but never Coppelia. I was familiar with the story line, but I was looking forward to seeing it.

The Denver Ballet Theater is a school based company. I was very impressed with the choreography given to the students. It was challenging but clearly not too difficult for their ability levels.

The principal roles were played by dancers from the Colorado Ballet and it was exciting to see their abilities up close.

The costumes were beautiful and the simple sets were charming. Overall, it was a lovely show to watch. The storyline is very simple to make room for lots of dancing, but this group proved their ability to express their feelings without words. (And it helped that there was a synopsis in the program!)

This was my first experience seeing the Denver Ballet Theater and I would absolutely go again.

The Snow Queen

The Snow Queen
Aurora Fox Theater
Aurora, CO
June 10-26, 2014

With the success of Disney's Frozen, it's not surprising that local theaters will be adapting Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen to capitalize on the movie's success. The original story, however, is much different from the popular film.

The set and costumes were imaginative and a group of snowflakes acted as the narrator's of the show as we followed Gerta's journey to free her friend Kai from the evil snow queen. Her adventures included escape from a old woman with talking flowers and coming across a feisty wolf.

At the end, Gerta's love melts the heart of the Snow Queen and she announces she is "the queen of the sun." It is an abrupt, but satisfying conclusion. After the curtain call, the cast walked down the aisle to the lobby where they graciously met with the audience, which was mostly school groups. As it turned out, they were all kids and clearly enjoyed their time together.