First Stage Children's Theater gears up for another great season with "The Mouse and the Motorcycle," a down-right darling tale of trust and friendship between a boy and a mouse.
Based on Beverly Cleary's book, "The Mouse and the Motorcycle," this timeless story is perfect for teens and youngsters, and adults will marvel at the acting abilities and memorization skills of the young, talented actors.
Keith (played by 10-year-old J.T. Backes) and his parents (Cathy Marschall and C. Michael Wright) are on a family vacation, and wind up spending the night in a seedy motel. Keith's mother is certain that the hotel has mice, a fear that pleases Keith, an imaginative child who adores toy cars and, especially, his miniature red motorcycle.
Ralph, a small brown mouse from a family of mice who live behind the walls of the motel, spots the red motorcycle on Keith's bedside table, and it's love at first sight. Before long, Ralph and Keith meet, and the mouse convinces the boy to let him ride his mini-cycle around the motel.
Meanwhile, Ralph's mother (Carrie Van Deest) worries about her son's curious nature, and scolds him for staying out in the daytime when he should be in bed and begs him to stay away from vacuum cleaners. But "Trouble" seems to be the fuzzy youngsters middle name, and he finds it around every corner he turns.
Before long, Ralph and Keith have a special bond, and Keith provides Ralph's family with food, referred to as "room service" by the mice. When Keith falls ill with a fever, Ralph realizes it's turn to return the favor, and speeds through the motel in Keith's toy ambulance in search of an aspirin for the ailing boy.
"The Mouse and the Motorcycle" is a tale of true friendship between two very different creatures. It also explores a child's fear of growing up and the fact that love means eventual forgiveness. The hour-and-a-half show (including an intermission allowing for plenty of time to buy cookies and visit the little boy's and girl's rooms) whimsically teaches the lesson of give and take.
Ray Jivoff is absolutely fantastic as both Matt and Uncle Lester, and is the master of speedy costume changes. All of the adult actors in the play have a strong grasp of performing in a childrens' show, with just the right amount of tongue-and-cheek to keep the adults in the audience engaged.
Director Jonathan West, who is soon to be a father himself, is clearly in a youthful frame of mind, ideal for this joyful, colorful performance. His flawless direction includes short scenes with quick set changes and wonderful perception switches between the mouse and the boy.
{INSERT_RELATED}On an otherwise quiet, lazy Sunday afternoon, this show had the kids clapping, bouncing in their chairs and, thanks to the energizing music selection of popular '60s and '70s tunes, even dancing in the aisles.
"The Mouse and the Motorcycle" runs from September 20 - October 13 in the Todd Wehr Theater, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are on sale at the Marcus Center box office, (414) 273-7206 or toll free (888) 612-3500, and at all Ticketmaster outlets.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
