Jungalbook

Reviewed by Holly Bartges

Time is short. Maybe too short, but Littleton’s Town Hall production of Rudyard Kipling’s JunglebBook deserves notice. An original score and script adapted by Sharlene Wanger, Steve Stevens and Debbie Stark from Edward Mast’s adaptation as Jungalbook swings into the jungle. Although many themes run through Kipling’s original, Jungalbook centers on getting along with others who appear to be different. The jungle is the perfect location to highlight a growing polarized society. Monkeys can’t be tigers, tigers can’t be snakes, snakes can’t be wolves, and a boy-child can’t be a wolf. Mowgli, deliciously played by Kyle Hanson, raised by a pack of wolves, acts like a wolf, thinks like a wolf, behaves like a wolf. Remember the name, this young actor demonstrates great promise for future productions.

Mowgli (Kyle Hanson) and his friend (Debbie Schwartz) are monkeying around in this scene from the musical Jungalbook, playing at Town Hall Arts Center.

The panther Bagherra (John Richter) bargains with the wolves to raise the boy-child. The wolves gleefully name him Mowgli, which means Little Frog because he has no fur. Michelle Paul, as Akela, wolfishly not only has to corral her two obnoxious, but fun-loving cubs, but now she has a baby boy-child to train in wolf-ways

Shere Kahn, the Tiger (Heather Day) snarls Mowgli is rightfully his, vowing to kill him at his first opportunity, Baloo, the Bear (Hugo Sayles) assists in protecting Mowgli, teaching him the law of the Jungle. Baloo, the wolves and Bagherra warn the child the Monkey Kingdom has no leader and no law of their own. They are to be avoided at all costs. Curiosity positions Mowgli for Monkey capture. The leaderless rambunctious banana eaters want to make him their King. All the while Shere Kahn sneaks around biding his time calculating his chance. Shere Kahn’s costume is indeed very tigerish, and greatly appreciated by the young audience.

However from a theatrical point of view Shere Kahn and Baloo seemed to be allowing their costumes do the work for them. Personally, I would have liked to see more tiger in Shere Kahn and more bear in Baloo.

ebbie Schwartz, more fun than a barrel full, plays a mocking, teasing Monkey, Perchy. She also grabs attention as the Vulture, Chill, with an awesome costume and vulture warning moves. Egging Perchy on, is Peter Hughes as Grab/Monkey and Kelly Kates as Grey/Monkey. Egg on, they know how to do.

Even in the shadows and out of the spotlight Lisa Finnerty slithers gracefully as Kaa, the Boa Constrictor, maintaining snake like qualities. Her silent slow slithering catches the eye.

Eye-catching, talented Wanger directed the Jungle cast, and award-winning Debbie Stark choreographed. In this highly stressed political year, I can think of more than a few who might benefit from experiencing this show.

The dancing songs: Jungle Law, Nothing That You Gotta Know, I Feel Fear, Kaa See, Kaa Know, and The Choice Is Yours tease and play with larger than life questions geared to minds of all ages.

A simple, intriguing set, designed by John Ross, allows the animals to crouch, hide, swing, and slither around, in, and under, revealing vines with bananas the monkeys use as microphones. Ingenious and very funny.

Although it is playing to schools K-6, call the box office for information and reservations. Young ones caught up in the magic of the stage begin to dream of their doing that too. Jungalbook is a perfect place to start with its delightful entertainment and thought-provoking theme. Would that the run could be extended. Always a mark of a good production.