Reviewed in Brief: The Jungle Book

Photo courtesy of the Children's Theatre

Good news for kids: the Jungle Book has been extended for a second time at the Children's Theatre.

The beloved classic gets a new musical treatment in this production, which stars one of the most diverse casts I've ever seen. Each actor plays multiple roles, with nimble costume changes switching between different animal characteristics. The set is also gorgeous, evoking a jungle but allowing the actors high mobility and visibility.

I hate to admit I was a little disappointed with this... but I was. Due to the necessity of having each actor portray multiple characters, there was little in the way of elaborate makeup and costuming that I was hoping for. I was also looking for some of that Disney flair, which is obviously not present here. Still, the kids in the theater didn't seem to mind, and the fresh faced actors made the show more accessible and a little less scary to them than it would otherwise have been.

Fans of the Disney film may be disappointed if they attend this show expecting the same, but lovers of good children's productions and creative production design will enjoy this greatly. For more information about the show or to buy tickets, click on this link.