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| Images from House at Pooh Corner. Photos – Hannah Wemitt. |
House at Pooh Corner
Based on the book by A.A. Milne
Adapted by Bettye Knapp
Directed by Andrew D. Harris
Reviewed by Keith Waits
Entire contents are copyright © 2013,
Keith Waits. All rights reserved.
As a reviewer, I always enter a theatre
hoping for the best but fully aware that no production is a sure thing, no
matter the talent and intentions driving it. I count StageOne Family Theatre
as a company who achieves a consistent standard of excellence in their work
that almost defies that idea. Sure, they are doing children’s theatre, which
should not be condescended to but could be said to allow a more limited mission
and artistic breadth than other companies. Yet how worthwhile and even noble is
the effort to introduce youngsters to the pleasures of live theatre? And then
to do it with invention and intelligence that engage audiences of all ages?
Well, kudos to the StageOne team.
The current production bringing A. A.
Milne’s creation to vivid life is no exception. Beautifully designed panoramic
backdrops modeled after the classic illustrations of the original books, tender
acoustic guitar renditions of a surprisingly eclectic mix of vintage pop songs,
delightful costumes that suggest the characters with wit but allow the actors
the opportunity to work unencumbered by claustrophobic animal outfits, and an
ensemble that never missteps even once.
So it is not for a lack of appreciation
of the quality of House at Pooh Corner that I turn my attention
away from the acting, direction and design of the show. The 11 a.m. performance
on October 12 that I attended was a sensory-friendly performance, designed to
create a welcoming environment for individuals with autism spectrum disorder
and other sensory sensitivities. The house lights were dimmed but not entirely
darkened, audience members were encouraged to move around and change seats if
required, the “Cry Room” located at the back of the Bomhard Theatre was
emphasized as an alternative viewing space, and the Mary Anderson Room was
designated a safe place to retreat and watch the performance on a flat screen
monitor if anyone experienced difficulties in the theatre. Additionally, ushers
remained in view, equipped with green glow sticks to alert patrons when loud noises
were about to occur onstage.
The performance, designed with
assistance from The Kentucky Center and the University of
Louisville's Kentucky Autism Training Center (KATC), was the first of its kind
in Kentucky, following models generated in venues such as Lincoln Center in
Washington, D.C. The audience members included enough ASD children that the
experiment was put well to the test, with everything functioning as intended.
One person availed themselves of the Mary Anderson Room, and a couple of times families
were seen to retreat to the Cry Room for brief periods; but most of the
audience remained seated. They were perhaps a little more active physically
than a typical StageOne audience, and a little louder in their vocal response
to the action onstage. But it was fascinating to watch parents engage with
their children to manage any problems. I sat near a young man who, although he
expressed enthusiastic vocal approval of the play, was literally bouncing up
and down in his seat and who twice stood abruptly and expressed a desire to
leave, only to witness his patient and practiced mother gently coax him into
remaining to the end with simple and direct communication.
It made for an experience that was more moving than
the action onstage would provide. And I could not help but observe that Matthew
Brennan’s appropriately hyper-active and buoyant performance as Tigger, in
which the actor is never still but, even in repose, bouncing up and down
slightly, could be seen as a reflection of some of the characteristics of
autism spectrum disorder; and that the young man who sat near me may very well have had the rare experience of truly
identifying with a character onstage. We who have watched so many plays in our
lifetime may take such an experience somewhat for granted. But the care and
pains taken by everyone involved with House
of Pooh have here accomplished the simple, profound task of sharing that
meaningful experience with people for whom it is harder to come by.
Remaining performances will occur under
normal conditions, and StageOne has not yet formally announced plans to repeat
the sensory-friendly protocols. But judging from the apparent success of this
effort, I would not be surprised if they do it again at some point in the
future.
House at Pooh Corner
October 12 & 19, 2013 at 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
StageOne Family Theatre
The Kentucky Center, Bomhard Theater
501 West Main St.
Louisville, KY
502-584-7777
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