You’ve heard of Mickey and Minnie Mouse of Walt Disney fame, mice who enjoy cheese snacks and brag about their big ears and long tails and even a trio of three blind mice who run up and down a clock. All mice do not enjoy being chased by unfriendly cats. But I would bet you a dozen catnip treats that you’ve never heard of a troupe of theatrical mice who reside in the basement of a New York City Broadway theater and have enjoyed a long run in front of the spotlights. Am I right?
Thanks to Dame Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton for penning a children’s book, with a new book adapted by Hunter Bell, you are now offered the delightful opportunity to make their acquaintance in “The Great American Mousical” thanks to Branford’s lovely intimate Legacy Theatre until Sunday, July 28. The show, directed by Ms. Andrews herself, has music by Zina Goldrich, lyrics by Marcy Heisler and choreography by Christopher Gattelli, music direction by Cameron Moncur, scenic design by Anna Louizos and costume design by Jimmy Johansmeyer, both set and costumes originally inspired by Tony Walton.
Imagine you have been deliriously happy acting in any number of wonderful productions like “Annie,” “A Chorus Line,” “Fiddler on the Roof.” “The Music Man,” ”My Fair Lady” and countless others, all renamed to feature the starring mice, and suddenly your Technicolor world is turned upside down because the theater owners want to tear it down with a wrecking ball. What will your friends and fellow thespians do? Further imagine that you, Adelaide, are a diva, and you have never wanted to do anything but entertain and claim the spotlight.
This "sweet, funny book with lots of love is a celebration of theater the whole family can enjoy," according to Mr. Bell. "It is a real show, not a children's show, although it would be a wonderful 'first' show for a child to see." Ms. Andrews calls it a "Valentine to Broadway musicals" as it concerns a troupe of mice who have been making their home in the basement of a stately old theater for years. They put on their version of the shows that are performed upstairs in the historic Broadway house they call home.
When the theater is condemned, panic ensues and the mice mobilize to save it. All might have worked out but their leading lady mouse Adelaide, played by an incredible Anne Runolfsson, a famous and temperamental leading lady, goes out for a nibble of cheese and is kidnapped. How to rescue her from a trap in Brooklyn becomes the challenge of the moment.
Even the mice have show business inspired names that echo great characters like Wendy, Adelaide, Sky, Curly and Pippin. Pippin (Hayden Elefante) sings a charming tune, "What Do You Think of That?” when he comes to the theatre as an intern to his Uncle Harold (Josiah Rowe), and his partner Emile (David Garrison). The show is filled with "Rodgers and Hammerstein moments," with music that is laced with humor and wit, both fresh and familiar, like “Why I Love the Theatre” and “How to Handle a Leading Lady,” and many more.
The message is clearly that "no matter how small you are, you can make a difference" as they enjoy this "celebration and love letter to the American musical.” Come meet the performing mice Hysterium (Thomas Beebe), Rose (Michelle E. Carter), Toby (Megan Hasse), Curly (Stephen C.Kallas), Wendy (Julia Lennon), Ping (Angeleia "Angel” Ordonez), Sky (Zach Williams), Chelsea Dacey and Jackson Glenn as well as Henry (David Beach), Addie’s gallant rescuer.
For tickets ($26.50-51.50), call the Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Island Road, Branford at 203-315-1901or online at https://www.legacytheatrect.org/. Performances are Thursday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Can’t help lovin’ those mice of mine! Come encourage them to victory as the fur flies in a most delightful way.
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