(Hedy Weiss’s article appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times, 11/2.)
Beware: You might just fall in love with that elegant, somewhat self-satisfied white porcelain rabbit by the name of Edward Tulane – the one with the tall tapering ears, enigmatic face and fashion-forward style who is catapulted time and again into the most heartbreaking trajectory of life. I certainly did.
In fact, the Chicago Children’s Theatre production of “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” is so captivating – such an enchanting show for every age (whether you happen to be accompanied by children or not) – that it sent me searching for a copy of the Newbery Medal-winning book by Kate DiCamillo I had never read. Dwayne Hartford’s adaptation of the story, along with director Stuart Carden’s beguiling direction of a cast of four superlative, richly musical performers, renders every element of DiCamillo’s book with faithfulness and flair. More than that, it uncannily taps into the rapidly beating heart and often fatalistic intelligence of the French-crafted toy (who is not at all happy when he is called a “doll” or put in a dress), and brings him, and all those who move through his story, to vivid life.
Stage Voices Publishing for archived posts and sign up for free e-mail updates: http 2015:// www.stagevoices.com/ . If you would like to contribute a review, monologue, or other work related to theatre, please write to Bob Shuman at Bobjshuman@gmail.com.