Richard Scarry’s Busytown is bustling. There’s food
to grow and get to the store for people to buy. There are doctors to keep us
well and postmen to deliver our mail and blacksmiths, construction workers,
firemen, and more – everything we need in a town. Including a pickle car. And
young Huckle Cat is soaking it all in, learning what people do for a living and
how we’re all interconnected, giving young kids a great primer in how it all
works.
This musical is adapted mostly from his Busytown book What
Do People Do All Day?, and it recently enjoyed its San Diego Junior Theatre
premiere in La Jolla under the direction of Torrie Dunlap. Torrie keeps
it light and fun and moving along at a good pace, and the kids in the audience
seemed engaged in the events and the anthropomorphic characters who make
Busytown run.
We mostly see how the town works through the curious young
Huckle Cat, with Casey Purlia Johnson making for a charismatic, eager,
and happy student as she learns about possible career opportunities, how things
work in town, and helps out her friends. Those friends include Alana Austin
as the mute and lovable Lowly Worm (who’s “the most even if he smells like
compost”) and Caroline Lezny as best friend Betsy Bear who is eagerly
determined to throw a birthday party for her Grandma played by the dotingly
grandma-ish Hana Berry (the party preparations leading to a valiant
attempt by Huckle at baking a cake).
And then there are all the professional people Huckle learns
about as the day progresses. Jenna Dern as Nurse Nelly (who has a crush
on Lowly Worm) and Ryan Luster as Dr. Lion help clue us into the medical
profession, with Jenna Dern also acting as Grocer Cat and being joined
by Farmer Alfalfa (Natalie Fry) and others in giving us the lowdown on
how food goes from the ground to our plates. Zoe Franks amuses as Able
Baker Charlie and as pirate-ish Captain Salty. Sierra Ottilie-Koveman is
our Firechief and tailor Stitches, Hana Berry works at the airport and
as a blacksmith, while Maya Hertz and a sentimental Ryan Luster
go postal. And then there’s Rachel Wayne as banana-thief chasing
Sargeant Murphy/Train the Dog (prepare for some spirited audience
participation).
Costume Designer Nicollette Gilman and
Hair/Make-up Designer Richard May help bring out the actors’ inner
animals, while Cynthia Bloodgood’s set helps take us into the storybook
world that teaches younger audience members a lot about the real world in one
very busy little hour.
Performs December 5 - 21, 2008
Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre
~ Cast ~
Sargeant Murphy/Construction Worker/Train the Dog: Rachel Wayne
Grocer Cat/Nurse Nelly: Jenna Dern
Huckle Cat: Casey Purlia Johnson
Stitches/Firechief/Humperkink: Sierra Ottilie-Kovelman
Afarmer Alfalfa/Dig Pig: Natalie Fry
Blacksmith Fox/Airport Worker/Grandma Bear: Hana Berry
Lowly Worm: Alana Austin
Mate/Letter Carrier: Maya Hertz
Postman/Dr. Lion: Ryan Luster
Captain Salty/Jason/Able Baker Charlie: Zoe Franks
Betsy Bear: Caroline Lezny
Director/Choreographer: Torrie Dunlap
Music Director: Patrick Marion
Production Manager/Lighting Design: Tony Cucuzzella
Costume Design: Nicolette Gilman
Hair/Make-up Design: Richard May
Technical Director/Set Design: Cynthia Bloodgood
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