We’re all familiar with “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” by Beatrix Potter.
Peter Rabbit ventures into Mr. McGregor’s garden despite explicitly being told not to by his mother. His sisters, Mopsy, Flopsy and Cottontail obey their mother. Peter is punished for misbehaving with no supper, while his sisters enjoy a delicious meal of bread, milk and blackberries. Peter is the naughty rabbit, and his sisters are nice.
Or are they?
In Imagine U’s reimagining of the tale, the story is not so simple. Directed by Tor Campbell (Communication ’24), this production seeks to teach children that we’re not all just innately good or bad, but a little bit of both.
“A Tale of Peter Rabbit” picks up where the book left off, fleshing out the characters more.
In this version, Mopsy (Communication sophomore Anna Patel) frequently sneaks into McGregor’s garden herself for butter lettuce and is all too keen to blame her misdeeds on her brother Peter (Communication senior Kieran Rowe). Flopsy (Communication junior Haley Bart) tries to be the obedient and mild-mannered older sister, but isn’t immune to anger or accepting bribes. Cottontail (Communication sophomore Willa Marie O’Donnell) is a moody teenager who frequently steals her mother’s phone to play games.
When a storm traps Peter inside the original Beatrix Potter book, the Rabbit siblings are faced with an opportunity to change the story.
One of the most outstanding elements of Imagine U’s show is the set. As soon as audiences set foot in the theater, they are met with a path adorned with flowers leading them to their seats. The stage also expertly uses white sheets and a screen to illustrate when the characters are in the real world versus trapped inside the book.
The actors also deliver over-the-top performances, keeping the audience in high spirits throughout the show.
On a thematic level, another element that stood out was the show’s discussion of grief, particularly regarding Mr. Rabbit — who wandered into McGregor’s garden and was promptly baked into a rabbit pie. While Peter doesn’t remember his dad very well, his sisters do.
“The ‘sad’ is just there,” said Cottontail. “Sometimes you just bump into it.”
This line encapsulates how ‘Peter Rabbit’ successfully attempts to break down complex topics in an understandable way for kids.
In true Imagine U fashion, the production is interactive in every manner. As soon as audiences step through the Wirtz doors, they’re greeted by craft stations where kids can color vegetables and make origami. The actors frequently break the fourth wall, making both the adults and children in the room chuckle.
At some points, the story can get confusing and a tad too meta. At times, it’s unclear if Mr. McGregor is actually present or being impersonated by one of the characters. The show also spends too much time on exposition, making it unclear what the plot is for the first part of the show.
Still, the production nails teaching hard lessons in a digestible way for children while still keeping them entertained.
“A Tale of Peter Rabbit” has performances scheduled on weekends until May 11 at the Mussetter-Struble Theater in Wirtz Center.
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