Theater review: Roanoke Children’s Theatre brings smiles with “Junie B.”
Theater reviewer Nona Nelson admits to being charmed by Roanoke Children’s Theatre’s Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!”
Have you seen it? What did you think? Let us know in the comments.
Theater review: ‘Junie B’ a holiday treat for kids and parents, too
By Nona Nelson
Kids will be giddy with holiday joy after seing Junie B. Jones in Roanoke Children’s Theater’s production of “Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!”
A smile will likely light up the faces of adults, too.
The sassy 6-year-old of the Barbara Park’s book series comes to life in this play written by Allison Gregory, as Junie B. and her classmates in Room One celebrate the holidays in the days leading up to winter break.
The season is not without stress for Junie B., though. She worries about performing carols on stage with her class, how to find extra money to buy herself a coveted toy at the school’s gift sale, and of course, she’s always dealing with her nemesis, May the tattletale.
May’s spying, peeping and tattling puts a damper on all of Junie B.’s holiday fun – including adding parody lyrics and interpretive dance steps to liven up “Jingle Bells” – and her constant fighting with May could land her in the principal’s office or, worse yet, on Santa’s naughty list.
Just to make things even “worser” for Junie B., she pulls May’s name in the class’s Secret Santa drawing.
Will the plucky first-grader take the opportunity to teach blabbermouth May a lesson, or will she learn that it’s better to be a giver and not be “shellfish”?
December 10, 2012 - 11:36 AM
My parents and nieces were in town, and we saw it Saturday. Everyone liked it. Come on…when there’s a “Squeeze-A-Burb” involved, how can it not be awesome?!?