Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas

Following the example of live musical presentations of Disney animated features, the Jim Henson Company presented Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. With splashy primary color sets by Anna Louizos, detailed animal costumes by Gregg Barnes, and skillfully adapted to the stage by Timothy A. MacDonald and the director-choreographer Christopher Gattelli, the production featured eight additional songs written by Paul Williams. In the framing device, a widowed father read a book in the attic to his teenage daughter. The father was played by Alan Campbell (Sunset Boulevard) who, doubling as Pa Otter, had one of the most beautiful new songs, "Alice Keep Dreaming." His daughter, Jane, gets transported into Waterville where the residents are played by live actors in animal costumes or puppets.

Emmet Otter, the son of a poor widow who contributes to the household by doing odd handyman work, was played by an almost unrecognizable Daniel Reichard (Jersey Boys) in full otter costume and affecting animal characteristics in his voice, yet still singing purely. His mother was played sweetly and naturally by Cass Morgan (Mary Poppins, Pump Boys and Dinettes). There is a talent contest and the winner will win a $50 prize and an engagement at the local bar and grill. Ma Otter. whose meager earnings come from take-out laundry work, sells Emmet's handyman tool kit to buy fabric for a costume for her act in the contest and Emmet spears a hole in his mother's washtub to create his bass instrument in his jug band. Among the new ballads and rhythmic novelties were "At the Music Store," a nostalgic ode to old music, sung by the prim Mrs. Mink, "When the River Meets the Sea," a tender ballad sung by Emmet and his Ma in remembrance of his father, and the infectious "Trust (that branch that you stand on)," sung by Jane and the Squirrel puppets, in a great singalong fashion.

The colorfully detailed new Henson puppets are the best stage puppets since Julie Taymor's Magic Flute at the Metropolitan Opera. It was impossible to see the puppeteers dressed in black behind them or the actors speaking and singing for them. The major section of the second act is the talent contest which featured both puppets and actors dressed as puppets, including Mrs. Mink doing a surprising strip to a vampy new song, "Born in a Trunk." The book is clever and entertaining and suitable for all ages, not condescending in the very funny and witty jokes to the children and smart enough to thrill adults. Gattelli's direction and choreography were well paced, saving special soft moments for the ballads and featuring animals singing and cavorting during the scene changes. All of the actors had individual personal quirks in their animal personas and each one sang well. Most human and affecting were Reichart and Morgan.

The Henson Company's plan is to drop "Christmas" from the title and do a long road tour before coming to Broadway. It should be a welcome attraction for adults and children in every city.

(Photo: Daniel Reichard and Cass Morgan; Photo by Diane Sobolewski)

Joe Regan, Jr.
Cabaret Scenes
January 3, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org