Attendees of the Purple Crayon Players’ production of “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse” were rewarded with a wholesome, heartwarming production. The play’s whimsy dazzled with a cartoonish cheerfulness that filled Shanley Pavilion on Feb. 20 and 21.
Based on a book series by Kevin Henkes, “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse” follows Lilly (Communication first-year Rachel Alvarez), a mouse who navigates the challenges of school and a new baby brother with the help of her friends, Chester (Communication first-year Milo Larsen) and Wilson (Communication junior Andrew McCarthy).
It’s a fitting show for the Purple Crayon Players, whose performances are geared towards young audiences, but it engaged in themes relevant to any audience. Notably, it explored the impacts of exclusion and bullying, but also the positives of friendship and education.
The set was a beautiful representation of these themes — half the stage is the classroom, and half is Lilly’s house, emphasizing the significance of these spaces in childhood.
One of the most prominent plot points is Lilly’s initial disdain for her baby brother, Julius, portrayed by a stuffed mouse. With the addition of Julius to her household, Lilly begins to feel sidelined by her parents (Communication first-year Elijah Curtin-Adelman) and Communication sophomore Annika Raj).
While childhood jealousy is a complicated feeling, the cast presented it in a way that was simple and clear enough for young audience members to understand. Every facial expression and movement was emphasized to make the plot accessible, but not in a way that detracted from the entertainment of older audience members.
Production elements also contributed to a cartoonish spirit, with props ranging from a large cardboard cat to tiny silverware. The show also included a plethora of toys that were fully incorporated parts of the show — giant building blocks, an old phone and, of course, the purple plastic purse, to name a few.
On the set of “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse,” every toy worked equally well as a reminder of simpler childhood joys and as a thoughtful creative choice.
Especially because the play is intended for young, restless audiences, it had a somewhat short run time of around an hour. Despite the play’s brisk pace, a dynamic cast breathed immense life into their characters. By the end of the show, it felt natural to root for Lilly in all her adventures, respect Lilly’s teacher Mr. Slinger (Curtin-Adelman) and be invested in all of the characters’ experiences.
Whether out of nostalgia or entertainment, watching “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse” invited the audience to detach themselves from the present and enjoy something reminiscent of a bedtime story.
The group is bringing “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse” directly to the Evanston community in the spring, when they take it on tour to the city’s schools.
For the younger audience central to Purple Crayon Players’ work, I can only imagine that those performances will be even more vibrant, emotional and inspirational.
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