GOODNIGHT MOON & THE RUNAWAY
BUNNY Sunday, February 28 SAERC Auditorium 2:00 p.m. - Tickets
available at the Civic Centre Box Office.
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
will add to its acclaimed repertory of outstanding children’s productions with
an innovative double bill adaptation of Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd’s
beloved bedtime classics, Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny.
Now in
its thirty-seventh season, Mermaid Theatre has earned international acclaim for
its unique interpretations of the works of Eric Carle (The Very Hungry
Caterpillar ), Leo Lionni (Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch) and Sam
McBratney (Guess How Much I Love You). These widely-travelled productions
incorporate innovative puppetry, striking scenic effects, and evocative original
music to provide very young audiences with an effortless introduction to the
performing arts and the excitement of reading. The new show will feature these
same elements.
Few writers have been as attuned to the concerns and
emotions of childhood as Margaret Wise Brown (1910–1952). Brown, a former
teacher, believed that very young children could be fascinated by the simple
pleasures of the world around them. Few had previously attempted to write
specifically for children aged two to five, and Brown created some of the most
enduring and beloved children’s books of all time as well as developed the
concept of the first durable board book.
Clement Hurd (1908–1988)
graduated from Yale University and studied painting in Paris in the 1930s with
Fernand Léger and others. His engaging semi-abstract style became world-famous
with the publication in 1942 of The Runaway Bunny and Goodnight Moon in 1947 -
collaborations with Brown that became two of the 20th Century’s best-known
children’s books.
Goodnight Moon is a celebration of familiar
nighttime rituals, while The Runaway Bunny’s pretend tale of leaving home evokes
reassuring responses from his loving mum. Both tales feature endearing rabbit
characters, and the soothing rhythms of bunny banter and dream-like imagery
never fail to infuse young readers with a reassuring sense of security.
Mermaid’s staged adaptation will bring a new sense of appreciation to stories
that have delighted several generations. Presented by 1015 The Hawk and the
Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre.
