Today’s review is of the intimate stage play (small stage) entitled: “The Velveteen Rabbit”. Adapted for the stage, by Janet Allard and directed by Beth Lopes, this book comes to animate “real” life.

Commenting in reverse order, you can first be informed that this play will have journeyed your child to a safe and sound enough place. After, experiencing some fight-back-your-tears moments (believe it or not). You will have to decide whether love has prevailed.

Some questions this play address are: Is loving all in vain, too risky, and only to be lost? What is it about the act of loving (and being loved in return) which make it a worthwhile endeavor, if in that journey we have nothing to show for it – ever did we love? And can love be snatched away, as if it never existed? Or, can we enjoy it past and through the difficulties of life in genuine endurance? Does “the curse” return us to becoming “velvet stuffed with sawdust”; button eyes that have never seen?

The answers to those questions, are touched on and delivered in a most charming and gentle way through this successful, semi-narrated, joyful and colorful play. With abundant imagination, and lighting which harness proper spotlight moments, the text at times elicit our own imaginations too (in certain moments) where stage does not explicitly show. But, tried and true, the stage remains enjoyable to sight throughout.

A seasoned lineup of actors work in concert, passionately and abundantly giving each other the perfect space to not be outdone nor distracting in any manner.

This small cast is well cast; each actor demonstrating a level of comfort with role and suitability to his or her respective role(s).

While the second half performed was initially a little bit text aware, the serious and tragic elements of the story had to be delivered without fallacy – the darker and sometimes twisted side of reality. And, so fortunately without any dragging on, the narrative carries a captivated child audience quickly thereafter, into a magical finale (which I will not spoil).

The “Velveteen Rabbit” begins with a message about love, with cascades – unfolding, about how deep love can and does go when it is true. Building on this message, we can ask: Does the love lead to loss and tragic pain? Does the play-toy which comes to genuinely know love, return again to inanimate existence? Can the toy that has come to know love remain there, in a world with love in it? Or, must it be cast out forever?

This play moves along quickly but not hurried. Every child whom I glanced over, generally, was present and engaged; both suitably well involved and connected. The text was fulfilling enough for adults (without forgetting that the child is receiving a well spun tale)… packing a heavy dose of both tragedy and wisdom.

While the context for the play is last century, the adaptation is no less relative to the modern age. Sound effects and sound design, costumes, lighting, artistic design, set, and music, do not in any way distract from each element. As some actors play more than one role, the stage manager is also to be commended. Actors fortunately stayed true to script and direction, without any breaks in character nor breaks in continuity.

If you can get your family to this show before last performance of June 9th, I think you will be very satisfied that you did.

Don’t be fooled… while this is stage for young audiences, the production crew is seasoned; and it appears to me that the production is generously financed. I recommend that you go if you can. And if not, read the original book perhaps.

Thank you cast, crew, and producers… it was delightful to see this show. I feel very lucky to review this literary-based, theatrical success. The show gives parents and children some things to think about, to imagine, to discuss, and maybe to even re-live.