Review of Peter & the Wolf at Imagination Stage
February 16, 2010
Review by Marcy Gessel
4908 Auburn Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
301.280.1660
Google Map
Photo by Scott Suchman
A viewer’s impression of the show might be influenced by the degree of familiarity with the original Peter & the Wolf, written and composed in 1936 by Sergei Prokofiev to introduce young audiences to the symphony orchestra.
Except for the initial entrances, this version abandons the traditional premise of the characters being represented by particular instruments. The OK reviewers didn’t think Prokofiev’s simple plot was strong enough to hold up without the original concept. A wolf swallows a duck and then threatens Peter’s other friends, the bird and the cat. Peter ultimately captures the wolf, saving it from the hunters and taking it to the zoo.
The updated version fleshes out the characters a little and adds a few amusing details. The boys reviewing the show particularly enjoyed Peter’s convoluted plans for capturing the wolf and the play’s silly take on the original’s suggestion that the duck survived in the wolf’s belly because it was swallowed whole. In the best scene of the play, the characters participate in a great slapstick gag by hiding behind various identical bushes and just barely outsmarting one another.
The writer, Allison Gregory, and composer, Hummie Mann, intended to enliven the old story with new music of different varieties. The youngest reviewer particularly liked a tango performed by the wolf (posing as a hunter) with Peter and the other animals. He was delighted by the silliness of all the characters dancing with roses in their mouths.
The parents enjoyed another wolf-led dance number, this time a soft shoe. However, the 10-year-old was distracted by the absurdity of a wolf leading his prey in a song and dance number—and the prey dancing along with him. He was particularly disturbed that the song included the wolf’s suggestion that he might want to try eating Peter, while Peter continued to dance along.
Given the charm of the wolf played by actor Landon Nagel, a boy might be forgiven for joining the dance rather than just running away. The play could not have succeeded as well as it did without a strong actor in the role of the wolf, and Nagel delivered.
Matthew McGloin also impressed as an acrobatic Peter. Maggie Marlin and Gia Mora not only sang and danced but served as puppeteers, manipulating gorgeous puppets as the bird and duck, respectively.
Bottom Line
The youngest audiences, in particular, will enjoy the dancing, singing and humor of Imagination Stage’s Peter & the Wolf.
Tickets
Peter & the Wolf continues through March 21 on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 and 4 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m. Ticket prices are $10–$21. Tickets are available at 301.280.1660 or online at www.imaginationstage.org.
Tickets for a special Grandparent/Grandchild event on Saturday, February 27, are available by calling Lilly Goldberg at 301.280.1626.
How to get there
Parking is available in the adjacent parking garage, accessible either from Auburn Avenue or DelRay Avenue. Parking is free on the weekend. Imagination Stage is a half-mile walk from the Bethesda Metro station on the Red Line.
Amenities
Imagination Stage offers the Just Imagine Café, which provides soups, sandwiches and salads. Fruit, cookies and other snacks also are available for purchase during Intermission. Expect to have children wander into Imagination Stage’s marvelous gift shop before or after the performance. Up Next: The Dancing Princesses which runs from April 14 to May 30, 2010.
Our Kids Reader Comments:
- "We saw Peter and the Wolf last weekend. It is an entertaining twist on the original story (but not so much that your kids won’t recognize it). And the adults barely notice (but I did notice) that it is a 75 minute adventure to tell a 20 minute story.Perfect for the 4-8 year crowd (younger ones wont make it thru)" - Sue M.
Have you seen Peter & the Wolf? If you have comments and would like to share with the Our Kids readers, email Our Kids.
