It would seem difficult, if not impossible, to improve on the enchanting children’s story “The Velveteen Rabbit.” But throw in some extraordinary puppets and a Tony- and Grammy-award winning composer setting this holiday story to music, and the task becomes a lot more possible.
Actually the result is, well, really splendid.
Composer and arranger Don Sebesky created some standout songs for the musical version of “The Velveteen Rabbit,” which hops to town for two shows this weekend at Everett Performing Arts Center.
A few favorites are “Look at Me” and “Real.” Sebesky’s songs, with lyrics by Gloria Nissenson, run from the goofy to the sweet. In “Look at Me,” more modern and electronic toys are dissing the poor non-motorized rabbit, saying, “As a toy, you’re a poor excuse.” And in the lovely ballad “Real,” the true meaning of the story is in the lyrics, “You’ll find the future revealed, when someone needs and really loves you, for only love makes you real.” (A CD can be purchased for $15 by going to www.thevelveteenrabbitcd.com).
The story of “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams is familiar to most: A boy gets a plush stuffed rabbit for Christmas and through the boy’s love and devotion the rabbit becomes real. While this story is a classic, the music is new. Sebesky said he and his singer-songwriter wife, Janina Serden, read the story to their daughters and one day she suggested he write songs for the story.
“She said, ‘This is something right up your alley,’ ” Sebesky recalled.
Sebesky talked on the phone from New York having just finished up a production with Liza Minnelli and busy with a revival of “Pal Joey” that opens in two weeks. Sebesky has been nominated 30 times for a Grammy, including the 2008 Grammy nomination for “Best Musical Album for Children” for “Velveteen Rabbit.”
Creating this musical version was a longtime work in progress, with a start-out version leaving out a lot of narrative. But the final version now completely reflects Williams’ original story, Sebesky said.
“And all her original words are there now,” he said.
The show is being presented by Village Theatre Pied Piper and is produced by Enchantment Theatre Company, in association with Healy Entertainment. It’s directed by Leslie Reidel. Enchantment Theatre combines puppets and live actors in a musical setting as contemporary as a Broadway show, while using techniques with roots in such ancient theatrical traditions as Indonesian shadow puppets or the mime from commedia dell’arte, according to Enchantment’s Web site.
Reporter Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 or goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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