This rabbit jumps!
BTG show perfect for the holidays
by Christopher Key
One of the things that happens when you reach the ripe old age of 79 is that you sometimes get locked into old habits. It’s refreshing to see that the Bellingham Theatre Guild isn’t letting age countermand flexibility. With their current production of The Velveteen Rabbit, they’ve wisely chosen to move their curtain times back to 7:00 p.m. for evening performances and added 2:00 p.m. matinees on Saturdays. This is called being audience-friendly and it should assure full houses for this production.
Playwright Phil Grecian based the script on the classic tale by Margery Williams and it is faithful to the spirit of the original. Director Pam Mueller thoroughly understands how to make magic onstage and it’s very evident in this show.
Like W. C. Fields, many adult actors are reluctant to appear onstage with children because they invariably steal the show regardless of how good (or bad) they are. The adults in this production avoid that pitfall by engaging their inner children and relating to the kids on a level playing field. That doesn’t mean the kids don’t steal the show, but it does mean that the adults occasionally steal it right back.
Riley Penaluna gives a sensitive performance as the Skin Horse and Josef Shaffer is wonderfully funny as Bulka, the Rag Puppy. Brittany Goldsmith bustles about the stage with authority as Nana and Jaimee Everman is luminous as the Toy Fairy. Jared Anderssel sneezes his way through a solid performance as Timothy, the Lion, and Jim Wilson portrays The Doctor.
As The Velveteen Rabbit, Julianne Kimmel delivers a heart-wrenching portrayal of a stuffed toy who wishes nothing more than to be “real.” The “real” rabbits are portrayed by twins Michelle and Brianna Purdie with a professionalism that belies their age.
Michelle and Brianna Purdie encourage Julianne Kimmel to become a
Aaron Helms and Max Shmotolokha share the role of Alex, the boy who is rescued from scarlet fever by the Velveteen Rabbit. Helms played the role on preview night and was professional enough to remain in character despite some technical glitches.
This production relies on some technical wizardry and the ingenious set built by Joe Super and crew has characters popping out of some very unexpected places. Choreographer Wendy Setter made the Scarlet Fear come alive with her imaginative movement settings.
Costumer Alecia Forrester and her assistant Susie Smith deserve high praise for what was obviously an extraordinarily demanding task. Makeup is far more important in this show than in most and Julie Zavala-Marantette came through like the pro she is.
As usual, space considerations prevent me from naming all the people who deserve credit. Suffice it to say that The Velveteen Rabbit exceeded my expectations and my expectations are pretty high for a BTG show.
The Velveteen Rabbit plays November 28 through December 14. Tickets are $11 for adults, $9 for students/seniors and $7 for children. Reservations can be made by calling the BTG box office at 733-1811.
My gut feeling is that show will sell out early and you should trust that feeling.
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