My 2-year-old nephew Steven was another part of the experience. For one, I had forgotten what it was like to be too few pounds to keep the folding seats down; so, I sat with one knee on Steven's chair for most of the production to prevent him from being folded in half. Secondly, Steven's eyes were in wonderment from the moment the lights dimmed until the cast came out for the talk-back. Then, he sang "Click Clack Moo" all the way home.
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"Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type"
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 Entertainment
Art
Todd Wehr Theater
Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
929 N. Water St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 267-2929
Continues through May 29
Showtimes vary; visit www.firststage.org
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A third part - and probably the most captivating for all parties involved (especially those unfortunate souls who don't have an adorable nephew to rent for the evening) - is the actual play.
Based on the bestselling, Caldecott Award winning book by Doreen Cronin, "Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type" is a younger version of George Orwell's "Animal Farm."
Since Farmer Brown doesn't speak cow, duck or chicken, when the cows get their hooves on an old typewriter, they begin to make their demands known to Farmer Brown. Mainly, the barn is cold and drafty, and the animals would like electric blankets.
Farmer Brown - a bit taken aback - does not take the animals seriously, so they go on strike! They declare, "Closed. No milk. No eggs.
Our friendly narrator for "Click Clack Moo" is Duck, who uses the special "Storyteller's Master Universal 5-in-1 Remote Control 2000" to rewind, fast-forward and translate the story. (Please note: this is the only special effect of the play, but it does include strobe lights.)
THEATER STUFF
The Todd Wehr Theater was a great venue for "Click Clack Moo." It is a small and intimate theater, with stadium-styled seating, great for optimal viewing for kids.
The set was designed by Mark Hare and is fabulous! The keyboardist for the play sits in the barn's loft; Farmer Brown's house is on stage left; Duck lives in a pond; and there is a silo for storage on stage right.
The costumes were designed by Karen Kowalski, and I don't think she had an easy task on her hand. The cows have udders, and Duck and Hen's costumes include a wire caging to give the illusion of the breast of fowl.
GOOD FOR ALL
Not only is "Click Clack Moo" a great show for kids, but it is great for adults. In my day-to-day life, I tend forget about the simple things. Oftentimes, children's stories are full of simple but important life lessons. "Click Clack Moo" is about basic needs of survival (i.e. being warm enough) and passivity vs. proactivity.
Additionally, there were plenty of shout-outs for adults to enjoy - in the way that "Finding Nemo" has humor for kids and adults. When the animals were looking through some of Farmer Brown's old books, they come across Kafka, Marx and other revolutionary thinkers. Additionally, there is homage paid to "Les Miserables" in one scene where the animals have finally decided to wage a revolution. But both notes are subtle and simple so that adults will chuckle and children won't feel left out.
