Katherine Paterson’s Newbery-award-winning novel Bridge to Terabithia is filled with lyrical language and tangled with deep emotions. It is a haunting story that is as relevant today as it was in 1977, when it was published. Yet it is a difficult tale, with its inherent darkness, to bring to the stage, especially with children as lead performers.
The Coterie Theatre has risen to the occasion and turned out another winner. Both lead actors, Marshall Hopkins (as artistic, sensitive Jesse Aarons) and Haley Wolff (as spunky, imaginative Leslie Burke) really shine in their roles and make their characters come to life. And young Megan Secrest (as May Belle Aarons) is a force to be reckoned with, in her perfect characterization of the pesky kid sister.
The themes of death, poverty, child abuse, joblessness, loneliness, and bullying are all handled delicately in this production. And a sense of humor pervades this play, in spite of the dark subject matter. It is hard to stay sober for very long in the face of Megan Secrest’s relentless whining for her big brother to play with her. Although the children in this story need to face hard truths, they do so with grace and dignity.
Kudos to Jeff Church for tackling this play and garnering such stellar performances from all the actors involved. The script, co-written by Katherine Paterson and Stephanie Tolan, leaves more to the audience’s imagination than the Disney movie version. And the set, which is designed by Megan Catherine Gross, is inspired by the character Jesse’s watercolor paintings of the places and objects he sees every day. The stage goes right out into the audience, creating an intimate “feel.”
No review of this production would be complete without special mention of the cuddly Chewbecca (as Prince Terrien). If there were a special award for Cuteness, she would win it hands down.
Bridge to Terabithia runs through February 27 at The Coterie Theatre, Crown Center. Call 816-474-6552, or go to www.coterietheatre.org.
Comments
I love the book, and the play sounds wonderful, too.
This movie is my all time favorite My favorite part in the movie is the love letter to Janice and Leslie coming into the bathroom to help clean Janice was the bully in 10th grade Leslie was in 2ed grade the book that I will make up is about a boy named Freddy and A girl named Martha there both in 2ed grade and they both come to a swing that takes them to the other side on the woods Freddy thinks the woods ant safe but Martha is brave est girl Freddy nos Marena the bully in 10th grade about 16 years old gets hit by her father and ends up with not on e friend Martha All the 9th and 10th graders no and its hard for Marena to be nicer to people Freddy sister Mollie in 1st grade one year younger then him Mollie is 5 years old she loves pillow pets and hanging with her best 2 friends Zoe and Fran in her class Marena bully all 3 on them by trying to steal there stuff pillow pets and candy chocolate bars And in the story Martha helps Marena in the bathroom because she peed and she was a mess Sad a the ends Martha dies the swing brakes and she drowned in the water they found her body in the lake ever body at school cry even Marena did because she was so unhappy this is my thoughts my personality is annoying and sweet cute and funny I think of myself like Maybelle toy lover and cute and positive I love Pillow pets and TY dolls this is my thoughts
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