Itsy Bitsy Spider Who Changed the World
Martin City Melodrama 9601 Metcalf Avenue (in Metcalf South Shopping Center) Overland Park, KS 66204 913.642.7576 Martin City Melodrama: Martin City Jr. Productions
Tickets: $5.99/ea
Showing thru August 2, 2011
The Martin City Melodrama has been entertaining Kansas City families since 1985 with their zany brand of comedy inspired by yesteryear's classic Vaudeville. Nine years ago, they began offering Martin City, Jr. productions with signature shows for young children. This spring's production, "An Itsy Bitsy Spider Who Changed the World" is an imaginative delight. After watching the show, my girls (ages 5 and 3) gave it two thumbs up.
The show begins with the introduction of the spider, a lovable puppet who interacts with the children in a comedic song as her role in "changing the world" is unveiled. Throughout the show, the spider is an integral part in three legends as it is revealed through Native American storytelling how an itsy bitsy spider helped inspire the modern alphabet, taught man about fire, and taught lessons about caring for the earth. The play features three adult actors and the puppet spider in three short skits full of humor and song. The stories hold the attention of young children well and share the tradition of storytelling and legend in an imaginative way.
With song, dance, and simple legends each story also shares a valuable lesson for children... the importance of respecting others, that anyone (no matter how small or overlooked) can contribute to the world in a big way, and the importance of taking care of and respecting the world around us. These themes and the Native American story format all gave us great talking points for the ride home.
If you're looking for a fun and creative way to celebrate Earth Day this year, this show is a terrific option.
Our favorite features of the show included:
- The cast talks to the children after the show answering questions they may have about the production. Kids asked about set construction, costuming, story writing, music, and sound equipment and the acting team happily answered the questions for the eager audience. My children especially appreciate shows where this opportunity is presented and it helps develop their love for theater and performance.
- The puppet for the spider is lovable and fun... not scary at all!
- The music was upbeat and whimsical.
- The show length is perfect for young children (recommended for preschool and early elementary) who do not have long attention spans. The story is fast paced and the scene changes were immediate. Two thumbs up from moms for this!