24th Street Theatre, renowned for presenting sophisticated, emotionally rich and provocative theater that can be enjoyed by both adults and kids, separately or together, presents Dwayne Hartford’s stage adaptation of the novel by Kate DiCamillo. In this powerful and highly stylized story, Edward Tulane is a porcelain rabbit who must learn the meaning of love: what it is to love, what it is to lose that love and how to find the courage to love again. For adults and kids 4 and up. April 6 through May 19: Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. & Sundays at 3 p.m. (dark April 21 & April 28); 24th Street Theatre, 1117 West 24th St., Los Angeles, CA 90007; $10-$24; 213-745-6516 or go to www.24thstreet.org
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Reviews
None of this would have worked without the dexterity of the cast. In her multiple roles, Jennifer Hasty portrays a surliness that’s weirdly nuanced and terrifying. Brady Dalton Richards is a veritable gymnast on the stage, leaping like a gazelle, then, as Lucky, rolling on his back and scratching his privates endlessly, eliciting howls of mirth from the children present. Rachel Weck beguiles as the first child to own Edward, before she morphs into unrecognizable variants as, for instance, the Hobo.
The four actors in the cast, all of them dressed in black, each play many parts, and deliver some accomplished singing and acting. But most of the action is mimed and even Matthew G. Hill’s video accompaniment is in dreary black-and-white and displayed on a screen too far upstage to connect well with its audience.
A porcelain rabbit may seem like a strange pet, but considering that all dolls came with porcelain heads in the late 19thcentury, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulanemakes sense. 24thStreet Theatre's Debbie Devine has taken the narrative apart and put it back together differently, with whimsical music (from Bradley Brough) and sundry industrial stage objects, from traditional “ghost” light, to mobile paint cart. The all-important doll is the province of designer Shannon A. Kennedy, while Matthew G Hill manages video design. Dan Weingarten's lighting creates wonder with an all-enveloping starry night that fills the theatre. But the real magic belongs to four versatile actors; Jennifer Hasty, Carlos Larking, Brady Dalton Richards, and Rachel Weck.
I highly recommend taking your kids (7+) to learn a very valuable lesson about love. The performers are extremely talented, and the story, even though is very deep, is very engaging for both kids and adults.
I highly recommend taking your kids (7+) to learn a very valuable lesson about love. The performers are extremely talented, and the story, even though is very deep, is very engaging for both kids and adults.
The house was packed with families and children, some of them very young. Mr. McAdams, in an excellent curtain speech, explained that the company brings a rigorous experience to the young people who participate and that rigor was to be expected in the evening's performance. Indeed. There is cruelty and death in the show, as well as humor and joy...
Under the excellent direction of Debbie Devine, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is impeccably mounted by the first class creative staff of set designer Keith Mitchell; video designer Matthew Hill; lighting designer Dan Weingarten; sound designer Christopher Moscatiello; and costume and doll designer Shannon Kennedy. Brianna Zamora manages the stage with authority.
We also get some beautiful harmonies and even a little bit of clowning in that hobo's snarky dog.
And, yes - there is carrot cake in the lobby afterwards - but that sweetness comes after a full-balanced meal of theater for young minds. I'd say it's good for kids six and up but at the performance I saw there were some a couple years younger who managed the scary parts just fine.
The show's strength lies in the ensemble........And while the production may fall short in technical areas relative to those in the past, it still furnishes family entertainment of a superior caliber, benefitting our community.
If you have children, know someone who has children, know a child or have ever been a child or aspire to be one, I encourage you to take The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at The 24th Street Theatre.
I spent the final minutes of Edward's miraculous journey wiping well-earned tears from my eyes. Still, signature look or not, I can't help wishing 24th Street Theatre had taken a brighter design path this time round. The Miraculous Journey Of Edward Tulane is grim enough as is without added darkness.
None of this would have worked without the dexterity of the cast. In her multiple roles, Jennifer Hasty portrays a surliness that’s weirdly nuanced and terrifying. Brady Dalton Richards is a veritable gymnast on the stage, leaping like a gazelle, then, as Lucky, rolling on his back and scratching his privates endlessly, eliciting howls of mirth from the children present. Rachel Weck beguiles as the first child to own Edward, before she morphs into unrecognizable variants as, for instance, the Hobo.
The four actors in the cast, all of them dressed in black, each play many parts, and deliver some accomplished singing and acting. But most of the action is mimed and even Matthew G. Hill’s video accompaniment is in dreary black-and-white and displayed on a screen too far upstage to connect well with its audience.
A porcelain rabbit may seem like a strange pet, but considering that all dolls came with porcelain heads in the late 19thcentury, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulanemakes sense. 24thStreet Theatre's Debbie Devine has taken the narrative apart and put it back together differently, with whimsical music (from Bradley Brough) and sundry industrial stage objects, from traditional “ghost” light, to mobile paint cart. The all-important doll is the province of designer Shannon A. Kennedy, while Matthew G Hill manages video design. Dan Weingarten's lighting creates wonder with an all-enveloping starry night that fills the theatre. But the real magic belongs to four versatile actors; Jennifer Hasty, Carlos Larking, Brady Dalton Richards, and Rachel Weck.
I highly recommend taking your kids (7+) to learn a very valuable lesson about love. The performers are extremely talented, and the story, even though is very deep, is very engaging for both kids and adults.
I highly recommend taking your kids (7+) to learn a very valuable lesson about love. The performers are extremely talented, and the story, even though is very deep, is very engaging for both kids and adults.
The house was packed with families and children, some of them very young. Mr. McAdams, in an excellent curtain speech, explained that the company brings a rigorous experience to the young people who participate and that rigor was to be expected in the evening's performance. Indeed. There is cruelty and death in the show, as well as humor and joy...
Under the excellent direction of Debbie Devine, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is impeccably mounted by the first class creative staff of set designer Keith Mitchell; video designer Matthew Hill; lighting designer Dan Weingarten; sound designer Christopher Moscatiello; and costume and doll designer Shannon Kennedy. Brianna Zamora manages the stage with authority.
We also get some beautiful harmonies and even a little bit of clowning in that hobo's snarky dog.
And, yes - there is carrot cake in the lobby afterwards - but that sweetness comes after a full-balanced meal of theater for young minds. I'd say it's good for kids six and up but at the performance I saw there were some a couple years younger who managed the scary parts just fine.
The show's strength lies in the ensemble........And while the production may fall short in technical areas relative to those in the past, it still furnishes family entertainment of a superior caliber, benefitting our community.
If you have children, know someone who has children, know a child or have ever been a child or aspire to be one, I encourage you to take The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at The 24th Street Theatre.
I spent the final minutes of Edward's miraculous journey wiping well-earned tears from my eyes. Still, signature look or not, I can't help wishing 24th Street Theatre had taken a brighter design path this time round. The Miraculous Journey Of Edward Tulane is grim enough as is without added darkness.