Emmett Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas Wants Tuning

The reside theater adaptation of Jim Henson’s vacation traditional, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, now enjoying on the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, is confronted with a troublesome problem.

In case you don’t keep in mind a lot in regards to the authentic 1977 teleproduction, perhaps that’s as a result of the expressionless design of the unique otter puppets had not one of the character of the Sesame Avenue characters, and the anthropomorphized story was neither significantly humorous nor actually emotional. It was novel sufficient then, and reasonably charming, to see a world of animal puppets appearing like a human society. I’m positive 5 yr olds will nonetheless discover it fascinating.  However the writing was by no means sturdy sufficient to lift this story to the extent of a real traditional for all ages.

For this reside adaptation, writer-director Christopher Gattelli and his co-author, producer Timothy Allen McDonald, have been very devoted to the unique…which is to say, this story and these characters aren’t very fascinating on stage both.  What was charming sufficient dialogue coming from the fabric-covered mouths of muppets sounds painfully simplistic coming from actual individuals, as proficient as all these actors are. Consequently, this earnest manufacturing by no means rises above the extent of mediocre kids’s theater.

In probably the most profitable musicals, the central character or protagonist desires one thing that lets her or him drive the story. We usually study what that’s straight away, in an “I would like” music. Watching the protagonist pursue that quest is what holds our curiosity as an viewers. Sadly, that doesn’t occur on this present.  The titular character, Emmet Otter, is dragged passively by way of this story for an excellent half hour earlier than he appears to need something, and he most actually by no means will get to sing about it straight.

Paul Williams is a legendary songwriter. However his songs for this manufacturing, nearly solely drawn from the unique teleproduction, are all what musical theater conductor and instructor, Lehman Engel, known as “attraction” songs. These are songs which stand alone for a pleasing second. However they neither advance the story nor stem from the emotional wants of the characters. In a well-written musical, these songs are used sparingly. On this musical, that’s all we get.

The opening quantity, “The Bathing Go well with That Grandma Otter Wore,” about how a fats otter’s pelt acquired become plenty of helpful issues, was a humorous introduction to the world of the play coming from the mouths of puppet otters.  However it loses most of its sight gag worth when sung by very human-looking actors with little greater than black noses for animal makeups. That’s adopted by  “Ain’t No Gap within the Washtub,” one other pseudo nation tune that fails to precise the internal emotional lifetime of the characters.

The unique movie would have been higher if the Henson firm had understood even then what distinguishes a profitable musical from a kids’s puppet present. The writers of Avenue Q understood it, they usually beat out Depraved for the Tony award because of this. But when that is the very best story telling this inventive workforce can do after twenty-seven years of growth, it’s time for them to rent a dramaturg to achieve a contemporary perspective on their materials.

Within the paper skinny story, it’s nearly Christmas, and the Otter household is determined for cash. Emmet, who isn’t a very fascinating character within the authentic movie both, is given a honest however equally bland depiction right here by Andy Mientus. Emmet helps his mom, Alice, the candy voiced Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone, ship the laundry she does to earn a meager dwelling to her animal shoppers alongside the river. Emmet, in flip, does odd job restore work to make somewhat cash together with his father’s previous device equipment.

When Emmet sees a guitar he desires in a retailer window, Alice desires to purchase it for him, however doesn’t have the cash to take action. In the meantime, Emmet desires to purchase Alice a present, however is equally strapped. To get the cash to purchase their presents, they each resolve individually to enter into the primary ever Waterville Expertise Contest, which has a primary prize of fifty {dollars}. With a purpose to get what they should carry out within the contest, Alice has to hock Emmet’s device equipment to purchase cloth for a brand new gown, and Emmet should to place a gap in Alice’s washtub to show it into an upright bass for his band.  So that they each make a sacrifice unaware of what the opposite is doing, in a fashion paying homage to the quick story, “Present of the Magi.”

Sadly, the brand new script by no means creates any nice consequence of those selections to carry our curiosity. The one second of stress the authors added, by making Alice a late entrant into the competition, adjustments nothing in regards to the end result, and fizzles as a narrative level because of this.

What’s fascinating and entertaining about this manufacturing are all of the muppet characters, each new and previous, who’re dropped at life by a stage filled with proficient actor-puppeteers. The opening second, during which a woodpecker units the tempo for the band, makes it clear that the puppets would be the actual stars of the present. The brand new opening quantity, “Waterville”, options faucet dancing bunny rabbits who had me laughing. A gaggle of goofy flying squirrels have a enjoyable music with Emmet, “Belief that Department,” which is the one quantity that elevates the story thematically.

The muppet bits within the expertise present itself are all actually humorous. One good sight gag includes a deer mesmerized by a highlight as if it have been seeing a automobile within the highway. It actually stopped the present with laughter for a really very long time. Sadly, the central story just isn’t improved by all of the furry humorous enterprise.

There are a a number of good turns by supporting actors  Kevin Covert as Mayor Fox, Emily Rohm as Gretchen Fox, and Sawyer Smith as Madame Squirrel, amongst others. However the two actors who actually captured my consideration have been Steven Huynh as a brilliantly dimwitted Wendell Porcupine, and the ever-talented Sharriese Hamilton, who delivers a G rated, musical striptease that was probably the most pleasant actor second of the night.

Clearly, the Henson Group desires a perennial vacation present with common attraction for each kids and adults. Might this be it?  Perhaps…with much more positive tuning. However with out a extra refined method, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas will doubtless stay adrift in growth till, because the music goes, “the river meets the ocean”.

Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas performs now by way of December 31^st on the Studebaker Theater, 410 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago.  For tickets go to fineartsbuilding.com/studebaker/, or name 312-753-3210.

The submit Emmett Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas Wants Tuning first appeared on Instances Sq. Chronicles.

Originally posted 2023-11-24 05:02:27.