I like to think of Mo Willems’ beloved character the Pigeon as the Gordon Ramsay of the children’s literature world. He has a seemingly hard, brutish shell, but he is a big softy who will always share a cookie, even if he ends up grumbling loudly about it. If Pigeon is Ramsay, Piggie and Gerald the Elephant are like Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg. A friendship duo that at first glance really shouldn’t work, a cool-as-ever silly pothead joined with a perfection-seeking neurotic, but the oddities between the two balance each other out, creating a bond that is more than simpatico. Young People’s Theatre (YPT) has brought this quirky friendship to life in the way that they do best with simple enthusiasm for the characters and the story they are portraying. Their production of Elephant and Piggie’s We are in a Play is a joyful celebration that only this heartfelt, oddly paired camaraderie can bring.
Who better to launch YPT’s Season of Friendship and Adventure than Piggie (Diana Marilyn Alvarez) and Gerald (Sam Shankman) as they go about their day together. But with a friend like Piggie, no day is just an ordinary day. Every day holds mysteries waiting to be unveiled because after all, anything is possible. Directed by artistic director Randy White, choreographed by Matthew Weidenbener with musical direction by Danny Kapinos, this 60-minute show for all ages goes from a quaint playdate to a fancy-costume-pool party to the realization that, oh my, they are in a play. With guest appearances from the Squirelles (Marta Bady, Julia Limoncelli, and Lili Galluzzo) who add light, humorous interludes in full song and dance numbers to Piggie and Gerald's oftentimes conflicting nature and minor misgivings. The play has pop-up moments from some of Willems’ most iconic stories from the Elephant and Piggie collection and some surprise guests drop by as well. Script is by Willems with music by composer Deborah Wicks La Puma, the same team that brought us Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.
While you can’t leave Greenhouse Theatre without a smile on your face, it is abundantly clear that no one in that theater could take their eyes off of the Elephant, and not just because of the big floppy ears. Sam Shankman committed to this role more than anyone could have. From the worry, to the embrace of his dear friend's positivity for everything, and back again to the fear of not being forgiven, the audience rides this pachyderm's roller coaster all thanks to Shankman never once forgetting that even an introvert deserves to shine. A character that could have been the lesser, quieter yin to the effervescent yang of Piggie, instead stood tall and loomed larger than any African elephant ever has.
YPT opened their season with a big heart. This is the show that will be your balm as we embark into the colder, darker days of Chicago living. Even your children will walk away wondering how they too can think of others in small yet impactful ways, how they can look at their days and realize the possibility of it all. All walk away seeing the world not better, this show changes nothing of our surroundings, but boils down our existences to what matters: skipping, silly hats, things that cost nothing, hugs, words of encouragement. Piggie and Gerald don’t need bells and whistles, expensive beeping and bopping, they have it all within themselves and each other, and so do we.
Mo Willems' Musical Comedy Elephant and Piggie’s We are in a Play by Young People's Theatre of Chicago continues at Greenhouse Theatre Center, 2257 N.Lincoln Ave., until October 19. Running time is 60 minutes. For more information and tickets, visit yptchi.org.
For more information on this and other productions, see theatreinchicago.com.
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