“The Boy Who Loved Monsters and the Girl Who Loved Peas” – Childsplay
This review aired on KBAQ February 16, 2015
CHILDSPLAY’S “THE BOY WHO LOVED MONSTERS AND THE GIRL WHO LOVED PEAS” REMINDS FAMILIES THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATING TO EACH OTHER
”THE BOY WHO LOVED MONSTERS AND THE GIRL WHO LOVED PEAS”
Childsplay, Studio, Tempe Center for the Arts
Tempe, AZ
The Valley is lucky to have Childsplay’s brilliantly creative theater for young audiences. In their current production, “The Boy Who Loved Monsters and the Girl Who Loved Peas,” playwright Jonathan Graham explores a significant contemporary issue that affects families in an entertaining and clever way that provides valuable insights for both youngsters and their adult chaperones. In the new play, we meet Mommy and Daddy and their two children, eight-year-old Evan and four-year-old Sue. Mommy is constantly on her i-phone while Daddy is married to his i-pad. Their obsessions stop critical relations with the children.
Creative Evan finds an interesting way to re-establish a relationship with his parents. He hates peas and crafts an imaginative story of an errant but crafty pea who first captures the children involvement followed quickly by their suspicious parents. The pea becomes a character who engages the kids, but makes the parents realize how they neglect their children because of their new gadgets.
Playwright Graham doesn’t belabor the idea and the play’s one hour running time is perfect to make his point while providing some entertaining moments to stress his message. After the play, audiences can discuss and, if it applies, make changes within their family. If families have already seen the wisdom of not letting gadgets dominate lives, the play enforces the wise insight. It also lets parents stress to the kids that using smart phones and other technical marvels shouldn’t override human relating.
Childsplay creates a wonderfully enriching production. As exuberantly directed by Dwayne Hartford, the play never lets audiences miss the importance of people relating to each other. Set designer Jeff Thomson’s off-kilter house brings a splash of whimsy as do Connie Furr Soloman’s garishly colored costumes.
Debra K. Stevens and Mel Reid Glotfelty’s wacky Mommy and Daddy still stress how critical relating to children has become. Michelle Cunneen’s goodie-two-shoes Sue and Tyler Eglen’s smartly crafty Evan are perfect while Katie McFadzen’s daffy but lovable Pea makes the kids think cleverly.
Young audiences will be delightfully entertained by “The Boy Who Loved Monsters and The Girl Who Loved Peas” as they are subtly reminded of having a close relationship with their parents. Adults will be reminded how critical it is to relate to kids as they help them comprehend the complex world around them. “The Boy Who Loves Monsters and The Girl Who Loved Peas” continues at the Tempe Center for the Arts through March 8th. For tickets, call the Tempe Center for the Arts box office at 480-350-2822 ext. 0 or order tickets online at www.childsplayaz.org.
Grade: A
