“Beatrix Potter Tea Party,” with Chicago Children’s Theatre/Photo: Charles Osgood
RECOMMENDED
Prepare to be transported to an anthropomorphic wonderland in Beatrix Potter Tea Party, presented by Chicago Children’s Theatre and running through April 20 at Raven Theatre. Created and directed by Will Bishop, the play covers four Potter classics—”The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” “The Tailor of Gloucester,” “The Tale of Jeremy Fisher” and “The Tale of Tom Kitten”—brought to life by two charming narrators who recite prose, sing and dance alongside articulated puppets, accompanied by a multi-instrumentalist/foley artist who creates a thrilling soundtrack while simultaneously providing the squeaks, quacks and pizzicato footsteps of various fantasy animals.
The whimsical performance is an excellent introduction to Potter’s stories. Felix Mayes and Diego Vazquez Gomez positively glow as the show’s narrators and puppeteers, speaking in British accents and dressed in lace-lined, brightly colored formal wear. As they interact with the puppets, one almost forgets that they are separate beings, as in “The Tale of Jeremy Fisher,” shouting the narrative over a swelling Jaws-like cello pattern as one operates a leaping toad, the other a humongous killer fish in hot pursuit—even the adults in the audience uttered an audible gasp!
The dynamic shifts from all-out action to moments of soft reflection, as in “The Tailor of Gloucester,” when the lights dim and out pops a miniature-sized cat (the mischievous Simkin) strolling dejectedly along a lamp-lit, nineteenth-century street looking for thread for the King’s jacket. Comedic scenes tickle the funny bone, like when Peter Rabbit sends articles of clothing flying in every direction as he is chased through a cabbage patch by farmer McGregor. Mayes and Gomez strike a delicate balance between somber and slaphappy, and, with musician Charlie Malave, adequately bring these beloved tales to life.
“Beatrix Potter Tea Party,” with Chicago Children’s Theatre/Photo: Charles Osgood
The quality of the production will impress both youth and adults. The play begins unassumingly, with a meager setting of large, multi-colored boxes placed across the stage. But these boxes transform into wonderful dioramas of a tailor’s shop, fishing pond, sprawling farm and more. The puppets are highly detailed, hand-painted and with multiple points of articulation that imbue them with a range of expressions. Foley work by Malave gives the play that old-time feel, and his impressive balance of musical layers on different instruments—mandolin, violin, toy piano and banjo—thanks to his use of a loop pedal is tailored to each scene. There are even little asides for adults, like a sneaky homage to Radiohead’s “Creep.” Plus, a “no shushing” policy allows kids the chance to be themselves without fear of reprimand.
I’m always impressed with the quality of children’s theater in Chicago, and Chicago Children’s Theatre is the gold standard. “Beatrix Potter Tea Party” is quaint and quirky, using props and set design to great effect. Whether it’s your first or fiftieth time experiencing these stories, plan a trip to Raven Theatre to get lost in the wonderful world of Beatrix Potter.
Chicago Children’s Theatre’s “Beatrix Potter Tea Party” runs through April 20 at Raven Theatre, 6157 North Clark. Showtimes are Saturday and Sunday at 9:30am, 11:30am. Tickets are $40 (children under 3, $20), available at raventheatre.com.
