It is no surprise that The Jungle Book, performed in the Lilly Theatre at the Children’s Museum, was an amazing and whole-family-enthralling show. Every production we have seen at TCM has been great for the whole family. And everything director Ben Asaykwee (also of Q Artistry) has written has been absolute genius. We expected nothing less than awesome, and we were not disappointed.
The classic story of the Jungle Book was retold in a fun and energetic style, that celebrated storytelling itself. At times, the show was interactive and funny, calling on the audience to sing along and add items to the list of what to bring to the jungle, from glitter to household pets. My own seven-year-old daughter contributed that she would bring a “tablet.” My modern girl has a little to learn about camping.
The jungle set was incredible; it was fun, beautiful and well engineered, allowing actors to swing across the stage. The actors did an amazing job engaging the audience (even my two-year-old was enthralled). The costumes were very cool and our favorite element was the incredible snake costume (reminiscent of a Chinese dragon) that stole the stage.
This production was full of original music (composed by Asaykwee) that was beautiful, supported the narrative and at moments was almost haunting. The cast’s live performance of the songs was fantastic. The music was clever and completely original, not relying on the old cartoon at all (though if you listen closely, Disney fans might hear a nod to the cartoon with a couple cast members humming a familiar tune).
This production is the first show in Asaykwee’s “Seven in ‘17” project, funded by a grant from the Central Indiana Community Foundation to support arts in Indianapolis. Details on the Seven for ‘17 project and synopses of other upcoming plays can be found at www.benasaykwee.com/.
The Jungle Book at TCM is definitely a must-see. The show is free with museum admission or membership (but should be reserved ahead of time to ensure a seat). The show is running afternoons until April 15. Don’t miss it. Visit the Children’s Museum website for more information. www.childrensmuseum.org/visit/calendar/view/439.