Today I was completely blown away by the amazing production "Goodnight Moon" by Seattle's Children's Theater. It was my first trip to the place - and I am going to be a fan - taking Milosh to every production that they have. In this blog I will try to separate out the cute little aspects of our field trip - and then go in detail about the play itself.
First about our trip: I made Anuj sign up my name as a chaperone as soooon as I read there was an opportunity for parents to join in on their school trip! I got lucky being one of the 2 parents who get to help the class make this trip to the theater. The excitement in the class was palpable as the days were approaching. I usually don't tell Milosh about any upcoming exciting events too much in advance - but now that he can contain his excitement and only asks me about a dozen times I have started telling him. Besides, two days before the play Miss Gina had given him the brand new Living Montessori t-shirt which all kids wear to the trip - so he knew. The day before he asked when are we going to the play many times - even though my answer was the same. He said - but tell me - when will we go, will we go when its 49? (that's his concept of time right now - he meant bring it on - I know I have to wait a long time - and 49 is probably the biggest number he could associate with time)
Of course he wore the t-shirt to the school the day before - it was too exciting for him not to :) - and of course his teachers helped to change his mind and help him into other clothes. The night before - he again asked - mostly because he loved to hear it again and again - "tomorrow when I wake up we will go in a bus?" I said yes. "yay! And you will come too with us?" "yay!! because i really love you!"
The morning of the event - I was told kids were up at 6 am so they didn't miss the bus - the bus as you can imagine was the bigger reason for excitement than the play itself. The kids were all queued up before the bus at 9:15 sharp - I was immediately enveloped in soft innocent voices - tiny soft hands holding my hand as we boarded the bus. Few clicking sounds of seat belts and a few rounds of "I can do it myself" back and forth with "are you ready to be helped now?" later - we were all set to leave. I loved how the teachers gently announced about using indoor voices - but their smiles gave away that excitement was going to rule today. Some snacks were handed to the kids - and they were all chatting and eating excitedly. Every bridge and tunnel on the way was loudly greeted by the entire bus of 3-5 yr olds. It was their special day too - their day to be noticed and cheered more than space needle even!
Milosh went back and forth between sticking with his buddies and then sticking with his mommy. He went and sat with his buddies (fought tooth and nail to fight with them is more like it). I sat with the soft and quiet little girl Aneeka. I was prepared to be referred to as "Milosh's mommy" but not "Aneeka's mommy" :) Anyway, we reached and the kids got the first row! The stage looked immaculate - as if you had literally stepped inside the book - every detail from the red balloon to the mittens - was done perfectly. We were a bit early but the kids waited very patiently.
When the lights turned off - the kids were a little scared. It reminded me of the time when I had gone to watch "Ice Age" with a 5 yr old - and he had found the movie to be scary :) Its hard to imagine all the things in a kids play that make the kids scared.
The play started with a scene of bunny trying to sleep - more like his mom trying to put him to bed. The kids were all giggling at all the right moments and completely got into the zone as the characters sang and danced. The book had come alive in ways I could never imagine! There were creative stories behind every little thing in the room - narrated with amazing craftsmanship by the crew. The kids were absorbing every minute detail on the play - the scenes behind the paintings, the story of the tooth fairy, the lamp moving in a funny way. Some kids were getting scared with the loud sounds of the bears - poor kids - they actually were scared with teeth chattering! But just for a few moments. After a couple of acts there was a break - which was short and uneventful. After the break the play again picked momentum - but the kids were starting to get tired - it was their lunch time - and the last 15 or so min the kids got a bit restless - but still very patient. As the bunny was proceeding towards falling asleep, the kids were starting to roll on their seats also. I think the whole setting of night, with moon and stars and the lullabies had a powerful effect on them - and they were starting to relate to the bunny - and fell asleep themselves :) There was a little interactive part after the crew was introduced - and then we all stepped out for a group picture. The ride back was a little bit dull - as the kids were very hungry and very tired. As much as they liked it, 3.5 hours was a lot for their age - especially coupled with the travel times and waiting times. Milosh who had started the journey not being anywhere near me, was clinging hard to me now - and wanted to go home and not stay for the rest of the day.
After Milosh and I had lunch, he fell asleep in the car. The moment he woke up - he wanted to go back to the good night moon :) There is a compelling case for me to take him there again - but I think I will take him to another play instead. Now that he is almost 4, so many things are opening up. It feels like such a huge gift to be able to watch classic stories played so well - by live talented people! And I think we will have the opportunity to watch at least 6 such plays in an entire year - a huge unforgettable gift!
I am pasting the synopsis of the play from the website - just for our memory (although I doubt he will forget :)) and I will try to hunt for pictures from the net - since photography was not allowed.
As little Bunny goes into his Great Green Room, the mantle clock announces it is seven o’clock and time for bed. The kind Old Lady reads to him from the book, Goodnight Moon. She reads of the wonderful things there, and Bunny says hello to them all: the telephone, the red balloon, the cow jumping over the moon, the three bears on chairs, two little kittens with a pair of mittens, clocks, socks, a little toy house, a mouse, a comb and a brush, and a bowl full of mush.
Bunny wants to play with each one. He still has lots of energy! The Old Lady whispers “hush” and takes up her knitting in the rocking chair. She tells Bunny to say his prayers and go to sleep. Bunny closes his eyes in his bed, but strange noises capture his attention. The Old Lady playfully tucks him in tight and wishes him sweet dreams.
Bunny, however, is still not ready for sleep, and asks for his dolls. The Old Lady brings all of them to his bed and sings him a goodnight lullaby. She goes back to her knitting. Now the fire in the fireplace, the rocking chair, the kittens and even Mouse keep Bunny awake. Bunny asks for a glass of water. As the Old Lady fetches one, more sounds of clocks and animals arouse Bunny’s imagination and he gets out of bed.
The Old Lady returns with water and asks who has mussed up Bunny’s bed. He answers, “nobody,” and they sing about this famous character no one ever sees who seems to take the blame for so many things. Bunny starts playing with the balloon string and somehow he and Mouse end up entangling the Old Lady in her yarn. She demands that they stop this pandemonium!
Bunny asks about the picture on the wall, The Runaway Bunny. The Old Lady explains that it shows Bunny’s grandmother fishing while Bunny’s father splashed as a little boy in the river. He had told his mother he wanted to run away. Bunny and the Old Lady sing about a boy who wants to run away and an old lady who will always know how to find him and hug him tight.
Bunny seems soothed and ready to settle into bed now. The Old Lady turns off the lamp, says “goodnight,” and leaves the Great Green Room. However, the lamp turns itself on, more strange sounds emerge, and the Moon rises higher into the sky. What’s more, the picture of the cow jumping over the Moon comes to life. The Cat, the Dog, the Dish and the Spoon show up to cheer on Clarabelle the Cow, but her jump falls flat.
Bunny is wide awake now as the entire room seems to come alive with lights and sounds. The telephone rings for Bunny and a scary growl comes over the line. From out of their picture, the Three Bears enter the room, singing and dancing. They do a bunny hop with Bunny and conclude with a tap dance and a game of musical chairs. The Bears try to get Bunny to go to sleep, promising to return the next night, but Bunny has noticed that he has a loose tooth. Mama Bear ties the knitting yarn to his tooth and the other end to a doorknob. She slams the door and Bunny, proud and relieved, shows us his first lost tooth!
Once again, Clarabelle the Cow and her friends come to life in their picture. Bunny tries to show them his tooth, but they sing a song celebrating Clarabelle’s jumping prowess. Despite this encouragement, her second attempt falls flat.
Bunny climbs into bed. The bed and its covers seem to want to envelop him. Escaping, he goes to the toy house which has lit up again with strange chattering. Mouse tells him that some new folks have just moved in. Bunny shows her his tooth and they both sing about the excitement of losing and growing back teeth.
The Old Lady comes back to try to put a stop to the recurring pandemonium. Noticing Bunny’s lost tooth, she gets some paper to wrap it up for the Tooth Fairy. Mouse and Bunny do their best to tape the tooth up without taping themselves together and the Old Lady puts it under Bunny’s pillow. She hushes everyone and everything in the room and leaves to make some tea, expecting Bunny to be asleep on her return.
Bunny and Mouse only pretend to sleep, hoping to remain awake to see the Tooth Fairy. Their play snoring soon turns into actual snoring, however. Tooth Fairy takes Bunny’s tooth and leaves a dime along with a song.
Bunny and Mouse wake up and notice the toy house has lit up once again. Opening it up, they see that it is the Tooth Fairy’s workshop where fairies are turning teeth into stars. Mouse sings of the shining North Star that leads wanderers safely home as Bunny watches the starry night sky outside his window.
Left to his own devices again, Bunny spends time exercising his imagination, turning the Old Lady’s rocking chair into a car, a plane and even a horse in the Wild West. Clarabelle’s friends return and she gets ready for a third attempt to jump over the Moon. Her friends tell her to believe in herself and sing of the positive attitude necessary for success. This time Clarabelle jumps all the way over the Moon to the applause of all.
Now the Moon speaks to Bunny, saying he will shine gently down on him and always be his friend. Bunny notices how quiet things have become. The dolls on his bookcase sing him a lullaby. The Old Lady comes back and Bunny says he is still not tired, but she convinces him it really is time to say goodnight. Bunny says goodnight to Mouse, to the Old Lady and to all the strange and wonderful things in the Great Green Room. And, of course, to the Moon.
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