If your family likes going to the theater or if they have read the Annie Barrows’ series of books “Ivy + Bean,” it’s likely you won’t need an excuse to head to this play presented by the Oregon Children’s Theatre. But, if you’re on the fence about whether to see “Ivy + Bean: The Musical,” here are a five reasons why you should.
Number 1: They will love you for it. From the moment we sat down at the Newmark Theatre, our gaggle of gals recognized Pancake Court on the stage, the street where Ivy and Bean live, and were immediately ready for what was going to happen next. The anticipation was palpable and was followed by a few “Thank you, Mommies” that were greatly appreciated.
Number 2: Singing and dancing make kids happy. Our young theater goers were enthralled from the first note in the first song, and seemed to really enjoy seeing Ivy, Bean, Nancy and the rest of the neighborhood kids performing. It’s as if the characters jumped from the pages of the books and onto the stage. And who knew they could sing?
Number 3: Kids like to laugh. The performances by all of the cast members were outstanding, Madison Wray and Haley Ward were perfect in their roles as Ivy and Bean. Ward was every bit as sassy as we know Bean to be, and Wray played the spell casting Ivy to a tee! The other actors are worth mentioning, too. They made us all laugh repeatedly and were excellent support to Wray and Ward.
Number 4: Cultivate Literacy and a love for plays. If your kids like “Ivy + Bean” and have read some or most of the series of books, they will have a reference to the stories and themes they are seeing on stage. Our gals were able to recognize parts from a few of the books being presented in the musical and they really liked it!
Number 5: There’s no better way to spend little more than 60 minutes on a cold November day. Plays may not be for every kid, to be sure. It can sometimes be difficult to sit for long periods of time, particularly if the audience is unfamiliar with what’s happening on the stage. This production is recommended for kids ages 4 and up, and that seems about right. It’s the perfect length before kids start to squirm and there is no intermission. Short, sweet and fun! And check out the interview with Madison Wray and Haley Ward.
With 2 weeks left, there is still time to catch a performance of “Ivy + Bean: The Musical,” but you might hurry to see if there are tickets available. The production goes through November 23rd. For more information, visit OCTC.org.
