Scoundrel and Scamp’s stage is bursting with the magic of theater.
With materials that float, music and lighting, the space travel, apparitions and adventures found in “A Wrinkle in Time” vividly come alive.
Good thing. The Madeleine L’Engle book (adapted for the stage by James Sie) is a wildly popular children/young adult book. If you mess it up, readers will let you know.
The Oct. 28 opening audience was filled with folks who remembered and loved the science fantasy novel. They were happy.
“Wrinkle in Time” is the story of the adventures of awkward and withdrawn Meg Murry, her brilliant brother Charles Wallace, who rarely speaks outside the home and so is thought to be a simpleton, and their friend Calvin, who comes from a dysfunctional family and longs for the love Meg and her brother have in their family.
Meg and Charles Wallace’s father is a scientist who has been sucked in by evil forces which have held him prisoner for more than a year on another planet.
The celestial creatures Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which explain that the universe is threatened by dark forces, and the father is in prison on the planet Camazotz. The three mesdames transport them there but can not go with them. It is up to the children to save Mr. Murry. And the world.
Director Dawn McMillan clearly loves and respects the original material. She directed with a keen eye to bring the story to life.
She had help. Allison Akmajian’s Meg was so insecure and uncomfortable in her skin, but made the journey from outcast to savior smooth and believable.
Merik Brown, a seventh-grader at Tucson Waldorf School, is a sassy Charles Wallace who is clearly wise beyond his years. Because he was so good and suited to the role, we will forgive him for his side-glancing the audience. This is his professional acting debut, after all. Evan Taylor’s Calvin had a broken spirit that seemed to mend as he reached out to help free Mr. Murry.
The trio of celestials were a hoot. Samantha Severson was a wonderfully eccentric Mrs. Whatsit; Kat McIntosh was the always-quoting-someone Mrs. Who, and Carol Osborne was the wise Mrs. Which.
Applause must be given to Gretchen Wirges, who created costumes for the celestials that were funny, colorful and told us who they were. And Raulie Martinez’s lighting design was pretty spectacular.
If you’ve read the book, you’ll be happy to see this. If you haven’t, you won’t be lost and you’ll still be happy.
“A Wrinkle in Time” continues through Nov. 12 at Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre, 738 N. Fifth Ave. in the Historic Y. Tickets are $18-$30 at 520-448-3300. For more information, visit scoundrelands camp.org.
It’s no surprise that young children are constantly asking the question “why?”. Research has now shown that children prefer to read books that explain how and why things happen.
