THE THEATER MIRROR, New England's LIVE Theater Guide
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note: entire contents copyright 2009 by Beverly Creasey
ELMER AND THE ELDER TREE (at the Boston Playwrights Theatre thru May 17th) is the Piti Theatre Company’s artful, arboreal fable which teaches children about nature--- while it’s capturing their imaginations. (This adult learned a thing or two about Elder trees, as well.) Elmer (Jonathan Mirin) plays a citified everyman who flees to the forest and finds helpful bees, birds and a comforting Elder tree (all painted and animated through mime and dance by Godelieve Richard).
The charming tale is conceived and performed by Mirin and Richard against a magical backdrop of gorgeous butterflies, gleaming mushrooms and colorful beetles (and wonderfully noisy, evocative music). The hour long show is interactive so the children, and their parents, are invited on stage to join in the action. A little boy is my audience was continually delighted by the rising sun and setting moon, which he announced whenever Richard pulled the lever to reverse the orbs. Clearly, the kids get it. And you’ll leave with your very own seeds to plant when you get home. What could be nicer?