Where the Wild Things Are at The Coterie Spring 2016
The newest show at The Coterie, "Where the Wild Things Are," is designed for children ages 8 and under. The performance is part play and part theatrical storytelling with an interactive component that captivates the youngest audience members. Where the Wild Things Are is one of the best-loved children's books for fifty years. The story of Max and his vivid imagination as "Wild Things" befriend him in his jungle/bedroom is loved by kids and adults alike. And, with the magic that only The Coterie can provide, it comes to life on stage.
One thing I love about The Coterie is that each show is new and fresh. Each experience is original. Each performance feels like a first visit to the theater as the directors and staff truly let the story tell its own tale in its own unique way and that certainly applies for Where the Wild Things Are.
I attended the show with my girls, ages 4, 6, 8, and 10 and the youngest was the biggest fan of the show. This production especially targets younger kids.
Max was played by Raes Calvert and the Narrator/Mom was played by Linda A. Carson. As the story unfolds, the Narrator and Max work together with magic unfolding from their special magic box. One by one, props appear and the audience is included in helping to weave together the tale through imagination and props. Slowly vines are wrapped through the audience, trees appear, and beautiful waves across the ocean. The use of simple props from large blue sheets of material to a seemingly never ending vine creates a magical world inside the imagination of a child, Max.
As Max meets the Wild Things, he is initially unimpressed. He is asked to step aside while the Narrator weaves a bit more magic and each member of the audience is truly transformed (with masks) into wild things straight off the pages of the book. Then, members of the audience play out his coronation as King of the Wild Things with a red robe, furry gold crown, and scepter just as the illustrations of the book memorably show.
This production truly brings the pages of a book to life with the audience participating in each step of the tale. The use of imagination and creativity was splendid. My four year old was on the edge of her seat waiting to see what would happen next - with oohs and aahs at the sight of the ocean, giggles as we donned Wild Thing masks, and anticipation at what would happen next throughout.
Fans of the book will be delighted with this production. I recommend it especially for earliest elementary and younger.
Coterie Theatre
2450 Grand Blvd., Suite 144, Kansas City, Missouri View Map