Saturday, July 24, 2010
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Peter Rabbit asked the audience members for help hiding him during the Youngstown Playhouse Youth Theater’s performance of Miss Beatrix Potter Presents Peter Rabbit.
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The cast of Miss Beatrix Potter Presents Peter Rabbit from the Youngstown Playhouse Youth Theater took a bow at the end of their performance at the Canfield Library July 1.
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Mr. and Mrs. McGregor discussed catching Peter Rabbit in their garden during the Youngstown Playhouse Youth Theater’s performance of Miss Beatrix Potter Presents Peter Rabbit at the Canfield Library July 1.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.During the Youngstown Playhouse Youth Theater’s performance of Miss Beatrix Potter Presents Peter Rabbit at the Canfield Library, Peter Rabbit’s mother warned him to stay out of Mr. McGregor’s garden.
By ABBY SLANKER
As part of the Canfield Library’s Make a Splash Summer Reading Program, the Youngstown Playhouse Youth Theater performed Miss Beatrix Potter Presents Peter Rabbit July 1 for children of all ages.
During the performance of this original play, audience participation was essential. Peter Rabbit asked the children in the audience to help him hide from Mr. McGregor by standing up and by making bunny ears and noses so Peter could blend in and not be found.
The story follows Peter Rabbit trying to get lettuce out of Mr. McGregor’s prize-winning garden. After the untimely demise of Peter’s father at Mr. McGregor’s hands, Peter’s mother warns him not to go near the garden. Of course, that just made Peter want to go to the garden even more and prove that he can outsmart and outrun Mr. McGregor.
So Peter does go to the garden, against his mother’s wishes, and almost gets caught by Mrs. McGregor. With a disguise on, he calmly claims he is a judge in the county lettuce contest.
Mrs. McGregor calls for Mr. McGregor to come meet him. Mr. McGregor is fooled by Peter’s disguise and invites him to dinner. At dinner, Mr. McGregor recognizes Peter Rabbit and gives chase to him all around the house.
Peter then asked the audience to make bunny ears and noses so he can hide among them. Mr. and Mrs. McGregor come out into the audience and just can’t seem to find Peter.
They finally give up and walk away, but Mrs. McGregor comes back and tells Peter to run along home. She recognized him the whole time.
At the end of the play, the cast took a final bow to a packed house of clapping and cheering children, parents and library staff.
The Canfield Library’s summer reading program is sponsored by the Friends of Canfield Library. For more information on the Friends of Canfield Library or becoming a member, call 330-744-8636, extension 118.