When looking at theater that is geared toward younger audiences, there are few with quite the reputation as that of Theater Works. Over a half-century, the group has made it their mission to present art to youthful audiences, showing them the potential of performance with a healthy mix of song and dance. Among their recent successes includes Dog Man: The Musical, which takes the Dav Pilkey source material and adapts the wackiness to the stage. Continuing in those footsteps is their new show The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System. Based on the popular books by Joanna Cole, the story finds a group of kids hopping aboard a bus and traveling into space to learn about the planets. Clocking in at 50 minutes, the show delivers an entertaining science lesson with plenty of music and laughs that are out of this world.
For those mostly acquainted with any TV adaptation, it should be noted that the music used is not reused from the series. While the characters manage to capture the same sense of wonder with minimal props, including two cutouts designed to look like the outside of the bus, they are performing an entirely original repertoire by Matthew Lee Robinson. The first does the necessary work of introducing characters and dynamics, including the pressure of the new kid who is a know-it-all that quickly wins the heart of beloved teacher Ms. Frizzle (Korina Deming). Jealousy arises and curiosity emerges as the trip to space is sidetracked by plans to enter contests and spot aliens, resulting in scattershot storytelling that never gets too dull.
Over the course of the show, they start on Earth before traveling to Mercury and as far back as the asteroid belt. Again, they are working with limited sets and costume changes, meaning that there’s a great sense of impromptu compensation. Simple props like circular blankets come to represent craters and various balls symbolize meteors that prove to be as much something to ogle as they are to fear. All in all, the cast is having a great time and there’s never too much harrowing plot for the younger viewers. There’s still a sense of danger that emerges, but it’s perfectly offset by a tone that is constantly conveying character dynamics that connect the audience to emotions that students would often face.
If there’s any criticism of the show, it’s not the most educational version of this story. Those wanting more time dedicated to in-depth research on the planets may be disappointed. However, for the streamlined plot that occurs, the results allow for a sense of wonder that never fades. Anyone who enjoys the show is likely to come out with a desire to pick up a textbook or telescope and discover the real world. The writing and acting do an excellent job of making the audience stay engaged. The only downside is that there’s rarely a sense of interaction with the crowd, which could keep some from feeling connected. Even if it finishes on a goofy cliffhanger, the results are worthy of applause, serving as a gateway to potential curiosity.
As an adaptation of The Magic School Bus, it manages to capture the enthusiasm at the core of its characters. There’s a decent mix of intelligence with very childlike humor ranging from bad puns and slapstick. Ms. Frizzle even earns her cool cred by doing some trendy dances in hopes of winning the class over. While it may not be the most memorable show that Theater Works has put on recently, it’s still a worthwhile afternoon for those wanting an hour to inspire children to explore the galaxy and find a world outside orbit. If that’s all you’re looking for, then hop on in and prepare for quite the field trip.
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