Actor MJ Sieber plays the "Boy" and Don Darryl Rivera is the "Mouse" in Seattle Children's Theatre's production of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. The show runs through Nov. 29.
It's a tall order for a play to keep 3-year-olds, older siblings and their parents in stitches, but Seattle Children's Theatre's production of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie does just that. Jody Davidson's adaptation of the beloved children's book written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond is a delight for all.
Parents laugh because the energetic mouse, with his constant chatter and mayhem-making shenanigans, reminds us of our own children and their insatiable requests. We commiserate with the exasperated boy played by MJ Sieber who only wants a moment to himself. Kids laugh because Don Darryl Rivera, who plays the mouse, is a master of physical comedy and really understands what children find funny.
The 90-minute play takes place in an oversized kitchen with giant props that create a kid's perspective of the world. Everything is just a bit too high and messes are created all too easily. By the end of the show, the stage is an absolute disaster, which my daughter thought was great! The non-stop action romps through childhood moments that remind us how fun a bendy straw or bag of cotton balls can really be. Rivera also gets to put his sleight-of-hand skills to use with some magic tricks.
The play works for younger kids because there is so much action, and not much dialogue or a complex storyline to follow, just a simple series of cause and effect incidents. The Children's Theatre recommends the show for ages 3 and up, but slightly younger kids in the audience enjoyed themselves as well. One soon-to-be 3-year-old begged her parents to see the play again on her way out to the car right after the show.
Older kids loved it too. My 6-year-old thought the show was hysterical because she “liked all the funny stuff they did.” Even the 11-year-old boy behind me laughed throughout.
The actors come out after the show for a quick “talk back.” They encourage kids to use the important reading skill of prediction by asking what might happen if the story continued past the point where the play ends. Kids also have a chance to ask questions about the production and meet the actors.
Be sure to bring a pen so your children can do the maze in the program – help the mouse get to his cookie – while they are waiting for the show to begin. Consider bringing a book (or purchasing one in their gift shop) to donate to the Page Ahead book drive. You will be entered into a drawing to win four tickets to the upcoming Seattle Children's Theatre production of Peter Pan.
Most importantly, enjoy the show. Like the little girl in the parking lot, I want to see it again!
IF YOU GO
Where: Seattle Children's Theatre's Eve Alvord Theatre, 201 Thomas St., Seattle, located at the west entrance of Seattle Center, just north of Pacific Science Center and west of the Space Needle.
When: Through Dec. 6.
Admission: From $15 for children up to $34 for adults, depending on the day and time of the show.
