The Hobbit

Reviewed by Holly Bartges

Backstage Theatre in Breckenridge says, “Walk-in’s are welcome,” and they are. If last Sunday’s sold out performance of The Hobbit is any sign, reservations are definitely recommended. Children’s show or not, this is one production that does not want to be missed for a whole slew of reasons.

Christopher Willard as Bilbo Baggins and Jason Testerman as Gandalf, the Wizard in Backstage Theatre’s production of The Hobbit.

First, it’s a top-notch production on all accounts, a children’s show that doesn’t talk down to children.

Second, the detailed life size puppets blow the mind with wondrous imagination.

Third, the cast brings the detailed life size puppets to incredible life.

Fourth, Geoffrey’s Kent’s direction is a lesson in itself on directing inexperienced young actors coaxing inexperience to perform as strengths for their characters.

Fifth, Christopher Willard’s interpretation of Bilbo Baggins the humble but proud, Hobbit celebrating his 111th birthday is worth the price of the ticket and the drive to Breckenridge all by itself whether you’re five miles away of 105 miles.

The toughest critics of all, the children, made their comments loud and clear by appropriate silence, their big eyes, their enthusiastic applause, and the awed look on their faces meeting costumed cast following the show.

When the house lights went down, one little boy sounding to be 4’ish, and perhaps his first play, spoke outright, “I want to go now.” When Willard as Bilbo appeared on stage with Jason Testerman as Gandalf, the Wizard, the little-I-want-to-go-now boy had no interest leaving his seat.

Bright-eyed bushy tailed Bilbo bustles around his house with excited busyness over preparation for his 111th birthday party. Gandalf with is long gray hair and beard and long wizard gown stands stoically by curious over a book Bilbo insists he left accidentally out in the open, a book, he says. he finished last night. Gandalf’s stance and expression reveals this is obviously an on-purpose-accident.

The book There And Back Again, A Hobbit’s tale includes Bilbo’s exciting adventures. Proud of it, this exciting and excitable bundle of Hobbit energy definitely wants his birthday party guests to discover it, hoping someone will beg to “tell them a story,” which is exactly what happens.

Bilbo’s nephew Frodo with other Hobbits burst into the little house in Middle Earth. J.P. Devine plays Fordo, Leslie Chapman plays Pippin, Dustin Murphy plays Sam, and Chloe King plays Rosie. They are almost as excited over the birthday party, as is Bilbo. Testerman’s Gandalf remains aloof. It doesn’t take much coaxing to convince Bilbo to tell a story, which is exactly what this self-humbled Hobbit desires.

Although Gandalf plays an impressive role in the story, he refuses to have anything to do with Bilbo’s shenanigans. The very eager Hobbit Rosie jumps in with her over dramatic flair. Unable to watch himself portrayed with such utter pomposity, Gandalf steps in “It you’re going to tell a story, you might as well tell it right.” Something there is about Testerman’s Gandalf that says he wanted to do it all along. He just needed an excuse.

In order to tell the story, Bilbo engages everyone to play different parts. The little Hobbits show as much excitement over-acting out the story as they are to hear it.

The versatility of the young actors through the various parts shines through their inexperience. Kent’s insightful direction turns stiffness into character strengths giving them busy things to do on stage, bringing their characters very much to life. No actor finds himself just standing around waiting for something to happen to his character or because of his character. A brilliant piece of work.

Bilbo’s task in his story is to go to Lonely Mountain over the Misty Mountains to retrieve gold from the mighty dragon Smaug who stole it in the first place. No small trick since his ego and nastiness rival his very large head. Bilbo’s humility turns to cowardice and he doesn’t want to go.

Smaug is a puppet, a very big red dragon puppet that shoots smoke from his mouth, and is spectacular.

Cory Gilstrap designed the puppets with awesome detail. It takes more than an extravagant design to bring them to life, and the little Hobbit actors do just that. Even though the actors can be seen with some of the puppets such as the Goblins with very large heads, the movement takes place with enchanting believability.

Smaug’s head and neck appear in the doorway. Lights shine through his yellow eyes, his voice muffled to a deep roar. His head, neck and mouth move with coordinated grace. He’s scary but not too scary, although he terrifies Bilbo who discovers a soft spot in Smaug’s belly.

Thorin the mighty dwarf, wonderfully played by Murphy and Gandalf begin the adventure with Bilbo. At a certain point Gandalf insists he must take his leave. Thorin and Bilbo become separated, and the cowardly hesitant Bilbo finds he is on his own during the scariest part of the journey.

Throughout Bilbo’s “journeyful” quest, he runs into Devine’s Goblin King, and Bard. Chapman’s Elrond, and King’s Gollum and Elf Queen, all with distinct personalities going above and beyond spectacular costuming and puppetry. King’s white puppet, Gollum with his love for riddles calling Bilbo “My Precious” takes the attention off of King putting it right where it belongs, on Gollum, even though King stands right behind the creatured puppet manipulating every move. Shaking in his boots most of the time, Bilbo manages to outsmart the thinks-he’s-smarter Gollum.

Before coming face to face with Smaug, Bilbo finds himself in battle with a very large black spider with six shining red spots on his back. He walks like a spider, acts like a spider, fights like a spider. He’s a puppet, of course, but a puppet with his own web striking ability brought to life with his own spider personality.

Michael Grittner designed the delightful set that serves as Bilbo’s house, and various places along his treasured trip. The house features a little table and little chairs for the little Middle Earth Hobbits.

Mary Lorch designed the costumes with delightful imagination adding to the sight and sound of the various characters.

Not surprising the magical whimsical fantasy fairytale, The Hobbit, prequel to The Lord of The Rings which spread through the college campuses like wild fire in the 1950s, would be written as a play.

However, to confine the Hobbit story to a one-hour production boggles the mind. The award-winning writer, Willard did exactly that, hitting the highlights with clarity, providing realistic dialogue for all of the characters. Leaving it to Kent to guide the actors into breathing honest life into everyone and everything, which is exactly what he did.

Willard’s lively Bilbo leaves one wanting to dig a hole in the backyard to Middle Earth to connect with these wonderful mythical Hobbit creatures.

Testerman’s portrayal of Gandalf projects mysterious wisdom and tested tolerance for Bilbo’s delicious enthusiasm.

The other Hobbits: Devine, Chapman, Murphy, and King provide insight into Hobbit-thinking with their eagerness from “tell me a story” to jumping in to bring the bizarre characters to life.

The Backstage production of The Hobbit enchanted me on all accounts: writing, acting, set design, costumes, lighting, and wonderful inventive puppets. It’s more than worth the trip from Denver, or wherever. It’s worth its weight in gold (even if Smaug doesn’t want to give it up). However, you need not listen to me. The children have spoken and they’re the most stringent critics of all.

In the lobby of the Breckenridge Theatre a sign suggests very small children might be disturbed over the loud noises, large puppets, and the fog machine. If any of the very small children who were there last Sunday were disturbed, they certainly didn’t say so. My experience with very small children is they don’t pussy foot around. They play it straight and to the point.

A comment overheard following the show deserves attention. One ten-year old youngster mentioned to her mother she wished she had a program as a souvenir.

Souvenir or not, Willard’s and Kent’s production of The Hobbit is a classic, and it all takes place in Breckenridge.