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It was the start of winter break and we were ready for an adventure in theatre, a first for my four year old daughter Lorelai!
Surprisingly, traffic was light on the DVP and we arrived an hour early. The Young Centre for the Performing Arts is nestled in the heart of Toronto’s historic Distillery District which was, to our delight, festively dressed for the Christmas season![/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1483036323857-6b70ccef-acad-10″ include=”41861,41862,41863,41867,41865,41860″][vc_column_text]We were greeted by friendly faces as we picked up our tickets at the Box Office and warmed up by the fireplace with a brownie and a coffee. Approximately 15-minutes before showtime, the doors to The Marilyn and Charles Baillie Theatre opened and we eagerly took our seats.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Based on the works of Dennis Lee, “Canada’s Father Goose”, Alligator Pie is an entertaining collection of his children’s verse. The audience was a mix of children, parents and grandparents… capturing imaginations in just one hour.
The show starts as the characters emerge from a trap door in the middle of the in-the-round stage with treasure chests of wonder in each corner. A colourful hodgepodge of costumes, hats, wigs and accessories breathe life into the onstage personalities throughout the play.
We see innocence and wonder. We meet wilful and pleasure-seeking. We feel sadness, sweetness and malice.
Canadian verse is expressed in musical acts, commanding monologues and stage theatrics. You may recognize poems like Alligator Pie, The Cat and the Wizard, Mulligan Stew and Pyschapoo just to name a few.
More traditional music is made via guitar, clarinet, brass and percussion, but added are amusing and creative instruments of tape, staplers, scissors, plastic tubes paper and inflatable balls! I was impressed by the lovely voices and harmony showcased by the cast ranging in musical genre and style.
I was thankful for the reminder that the child in me is alive and well. Not only did I recall the adventure playground of my past, but Alligator Pie confirmed the importance of imagination, childlike play and discovery that I hope I can interactively encourage at home with my three girls. My favourite line of the performance, one I will never forget was, “When I grow up I’m gonna be a child.” We’re so adult when we grow up. Let’s challenge ourselves to be silly, to play, to have good old-fashioned fun.
Fittingly, the concluding dance saw the characters bubble-wrap stomp. As we exited the theatre, we also got to bubble-wrap stomp on a huge sheet that was taped to the floor. A delightful surprise that I may have enjoyed a bit more than Lorelai.
Alligator Pie was fun for the whole family. Soulpepper Theatre provided infectious energy via talented actors; an introduction to the arts for the young and perhaps a re-awakening for the adults.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I only wish there had been a CD or DVD available for purchase. In lieu, Lorelai asked if we could go home and perform an Alligator Pie YouTube search. That we did, after lunch of course, so the show goes on..
(Editors note: There is an audio version of Soulpepper theatres production of Alligator Pie available for download on Apple iTunes.)
Soulpepper’s Alligator Pie is part of the Soulpepper Family Festival and runs until December 31, 2016.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Located in its multi-venue home the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto’s Distillery Historic District, Soulpepper is Toronto’s largest not-for-profit theatre company.
For more information visit, soulpepper.ca/family.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
