Energetic, enthusiastic and entertaining, Mabel Moon Meets the Milky Way magically transports children to the world of black holes and distant galaxies. As part of Toronto FringeKids, Farm Girl Productions is one of the many theatre companies plunging into the realm of children’s theatre.
I love children’s shows. I spend most of my days relentlessly amusing children, doing my best to “hook them” into a topic or lesson. They can be a tough crowd, but at times also a very gracious one.
Mabel Moon, played by Virginia Cowan, does just that in her adventure to the Milky Way, accompanied by her friend, Twinkle Toes. Dressed in a bright coloured costume, Cowan adds a contagious and quirky chuckle to her character which is absolutely adorable.
The show is short and sweet, perfect for the attention span of a 4-7 year old. There is plenty of interaction between bouncing and cheering. At one point, Mabel Moon even calls upon a volunteer in the audience to play the role of “alien”. Of course, a child spontaneously ventured forth fearlessly.
Mabel Moon addresses the audience with questions and information, adding an educational element to the piece. There is a charming interplay between the lively Mabel and the silent yet expressive Twinkle Toes character played by Danielle Cowan.
Song and movement add to the overall energy of the piece. Musical numbers like “Good Friends” deliver messages of friendship, goodwill and the importance of imagination. Costumes and simple pieces enhance the “space-like” atmosphere.
From dancing an “alien dance” to balancing on one foot, this fast-paced 20 minute show is a delightful piece of children’s theatre sure to appeal to all those with a boundless imagination.
Details
- Mabel Moon Meets the Milky Way is playing at The Palmerston Library Theatre at 560 Palmerston Avenue.
- Show dates include: Thursday July 5th – 5:45pm, Friday July 6th – 8:45 pm, Saturday July 7th – 2:30 pm, Monday July 9th – 1:15pm, Wednesday July 11th – 6:15pm, Thursday July 12th – 4:00pm, Saturday July 14th – 1:00 pm, Sunday July 15th – 7:00 pm
- All individual Fringe tickets are $10 ($5 for FringeKids) at the door (cash only). Tickets are available online at www.fringetoronto.com, by phone at 416-966-1062, in person at The Randolph Centre for the Arts, 736 Bathurst Street (Advance tickets are $11 – $9+$2 service charge).
- Value packs are available if you plan to see at least 5 shows
Photo of Virginia Cowan as Mabel Moon by P. Gautreau