Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Footlights Junior Division’s current show is “The Jungle Book”Kids, adapted by from the Disney animated film and the works of Rudyard Kipling. The theatre is turned into an incredible jungle setting with terrific animal costumes by Johnny Cagno. Banished by the ferocious tiger, Shere Khan, a human boy called a man cub, Mowgli and his panther friend, Bagheera, are on the run in the deepest parts of the jungle. On their journey, the two meet a sinister snake named Kaa, a herd of elephants and a giant bear, Baloo, who teaches them the swingin’ musical rhythms of the jungle. After surviving a dangerous encounter with a band of monkeys led by King Louie, Mowgli and Bagheera are forced to run for their lives. When Shere Khan returns, our heroes must rally their fellow animals into battle and restore peace throughout the jungle. The animals of the jungle unite to ward off his evil presence and realize the strongest person of all is the wisest. These 38 young performers not only entertain but educate their audiences as they explain how everyone must learn to live side by side. This was not only true when the original book was written back in 1900 but also rings true today in the war torn world we live in. These children display this strong message with their singing, acting and dancing. Directors Neil Jeronimo and Tricia Rodrigues cast some talented young performers while music director Kasey Jeronimo taught them all the melodic numbers to entertain their appreciative audiences all night long.
The young performers all do a wonderful job with all the characterizations of each person and animal in the play and their dance steps fit the story like a glove, too. Leading this cast as Mowgli is Robert Goulet. He displays a strong stage presence and excels in all his numbers. Bagheera is excellently played by Erika Baxter who commands the stage with her enormous amount of dialogue. Comic performers include Leah Carrita as Baloo who stops the show with “Bare Necessities” with the whole cast dancing up a storm and Tony Pereira as the naughty King Louie who sings “Monkey Business” with his cohorts. The evil villain, Shere Khan is played by Abrie Massa who oozes with venom during the confrontation scene with Mowgli. She captures the sinister side of the tiger wonderfully.
Peyton Monast as Shanti narrates several scenes and ends up leading Mowgli to the man village at the close of the show. Marissa Forand plays Kaa, the snake while Demetrius Maldonado plays the head elephant, Colonel Hathi.Group numbers include “Jungle Prologue”, where all the characters are introduced, “Bare Necessities”, “Monkey Business”, “I Wan’na Be Like You” which sounds like “I Want to be Loved by You” and “That’s What Friends Are For.” The dancing to these numbers is delightful. All these performers are age 5 to 12. So for a rollicking version of a show with a message that is as important today as it was in the past, be sure to catch “The Jungle Book” in Swansea before time runs out. This show is in the loving memory of Steve Nichols.
THE JUNGLE BOOK ( 5 to 8 April)
Footlights Junior Division, Footlights at the Grange, 65 Milford Road, Swansea, MA
