Me and the little Wired Momma’ettes recently hit Adventure Theatre MTC for their final dress rehearsal of Good Night Moon. I must confess, going into it, I wondered if the show would be a little young for my second grader. I also wondered how in the world they could turn an extremely simple, though sweet, baby book into an engaging 60 minute production.
The lovely set of Adventure Theatre MTC’s Good Night Moon. Actors: Sam Edgerly and Colin Cech. Photo Credit: Mike Horan
Why do I doubt?
Why do I have reservations?
Why am I suspicious?
Shouldn’t I know better, by now, considering we almost never have missed a show at Adventure Theatre MTC in years, lots and lots of years?
I guess I can’t help it. I’m super annoying like that. Plus, while I’m piling on the confessions, I mine as well continue – despite the risk that people might start rioting in front of my house after I admit this one, but frankly I never really loved the Good Night Moon book. I know. I know.
BLASPHEMY
I am basically a traitor. But still, c’est vrai. When my girls were babies, I’d rather cuddle up with a Sandra Boynton book or Brown Bear, Brown Bear, than Good Night Moon. I found it redundant and slow. I know – the perfect speed for a baby but I was the one reading. And I was always tired. And probably cranky.
There you have it. Some serious confessions. Now that my conscious is clear I can tell you that I seriously loved the musical
Note our fav Tooth Fairy is in the background. Actors: Colin Cech, Sam Edgerly, Dorea Schmidt, and Maya Brettell. Photo Credit: Mike Horan
The dish, the spoon, the Cat and the Fiddle. Loved those costumes. Actors: Maya Brettell, Dorea Schmidt, Sam Edgerly, and Colin Cech. Photo Credit: Mike Horan
production. It was lively, witty, entertaining and wove in many other children’s classic stories. Like a beloved Pixar movie, the Adventure Theatre MTC production team built in humor and entertainment for adults (the “Mr. Nobody” song, people, just fantastic because he’s the guy who’s responsible for never cleaning up a toy or always doing something wrong at home – because it sure isn’t ever the fault of the kids) and plenty of physical comedy and colorful stories for the youngest among us. We all adored the range in costumes and the added perk of the Tooth Fairy towards the end.
Will she make it over the moon? Actors: Sam Edgerly, Anissa Hartline, Colin Cech and Dorea Schmidt. Photo Credit: Mike Horan
Bottom line: My girls and their friend adored the entire show. There was a little boy in the audience who maybe was barely three and he was totally enthralled and engaging right back with the actors, just as my girls were engaged and anticipating the next development. The suspense over whether the cow would ever make it over the moon, in her Udder Armour (get it, super clever) gear, was intense, friends.
There you have it – it’s fall, the opportunities for a fun and busy fall weekend are plentiful between pumpkin patches, apple picking and harvest festivals. Despite all that fall cheer, however, I would absolutely not miss this new musical production, at Adventure Theatre only until October 27, especially if you have anyone ages 3-10 in your house. When it ended, my four-year-old said to me “Mommy, I want to take this show home, so I can watch it again.”
There you have it. Out of the mouth of babes.
Tickets are $19 each and I hear they’re going fast. Also, if you are planning to attend a performance, Adventure Theatre MTC has partnered with local charity, the DC Diaper Bank, and is collecting diapers at each showing or during the week. They are asking for donations of diapers for bigger kids, not babies, so Pull-Ups or Night-Time diapers for toddlers is what they are specifically hoping to receive though, of course, any donation always helps. I hope you’ll support this great local cause.
Disclosure: Adventure Theatre MTC invited me and my family to attend the final dress rehearsal the night before the show opened. My opinions here are all my own.
