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New West Theatre is bringing a beloved children’s book to life for its annual winter Theatre for Young Audiences performance of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.”
The production begins its run at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre on Dec. 26.
The play is adapted from the children’s book of the same name by Laura Numeroff, said director Glenda Stirling. Stirling teaches movement at Mount Royal in Calgary. One of her students is Kelsey Flower, who has been in the previous couple of Robert Munsch-inspired productions. Willie Banfield also stars in the show.
“A lot of the kids who come to this show will have read the book,” Stirling said. She added that when she hired Flower he said it was one of his favourite books.
The book’s illustrations inspired the costumes, she said.
“If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” is about a little boy who is left home alone for the first time and makes friends with a mouse. Together, the two end up almost destroying the house.
“It’s the mouse’s fault, because it could never be the boy,” she laughed.
Flower, who grew up reading Numeroff’s books, plays the boy.
“It’s very cool acting in this story,” he said. “It’s great seeing the world in the book come to life. It’s the closest I’ll get to playing something like Harry Potter.”
He especially enjoys how much movement and physical comedy there is in the show.
“It’s very physical. There is a lot of movement. It is very active,” he said.
He added he enjoys working with people who enjoy the book as much as he does, including one of his former teachers.
“It has definitely created a level of comfort,” he said.
“I’m excited to be part of it.”
Banfield, who is a familiar face during the past couple New West Munsch productions, is looking forward to playing the mouse.
“I wasn’t familiar with the book before. I was a little too old for them, but I’m all caught up now,” he laughed.
He especially enjoys making a mess of the kitchen, which is the setting of the play.
“We turn it into a complete disaster by the end,” he said.
However, Stirling doesn’t think that will be the highlight of the play.
“I think the highlight for a lot of children coming to the show will be seeing these characters they’ve only seen in 2-D, come to life,” she said.
“If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” runs at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 26-31 and Jan. 2-7. There are 1 p.m. matinees on Dec. 26, 29 and Jan. 5 and 7. Tickets are available from the Ticket Centre in Yates Memorial Centre by phoning 403-329-SEAT (7328) and visiting www.lethbridge.ca/tickets.
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