Thursday, December 8, 2016

review - THE VELVETEEN RABBIT - Desert Stages Theatre

Keaton Honaker, Isaac Speyer, and Donna Kaufman
Photo by Dana Butcher
highlights from local critics reviews - (click link at bottom of each review to read complete review)

Click here for more information on this production that runs through December 23rd.

"."What is real?" That probing question is repeated numerous times throughout the charming family-friendly drama The Velveteen Rabbit. Desert Stages Theatre presents this simple tale of a stuffed toy rabbit who yearns to be "real" with an endearing cast and whimsical creative aspects that combine to create a lovely production of this sweet and heartwarming story....The Velveteen Rabbit focuses on a young boy and the new stuffed toy rabbit with rich velveteen fur he receives as a Christmas present... he is told that the love of the boy could magically make him become real. But when the boy becomes ill it threatens not only the rabbit's future but the child's as well. ...Scott Davidson’s adaptation doesn'’t overstuff the simple story of this stuffed rabbit, which is a huge asset. ...Director Rick Davis keeps the sappiness at bay and ensures his cast does as well, which results in a poignant, moving production that is full of humor and heart....Donna Kaufman shows warmth and understanding as the boy's Nana and J. Kevin Tallent evokes a pure sense of old age wisdom as the boy's oldest toy... and Keaton Honaker projects a keen sense of awe and determination as the self-conscious and questioning Velveteen Rabbit. The smart set design works well as it simply portrays the interior and exterior locations of the story with three distinct playing areas. ..This beloved story about how love can make a toy rabbit real is both sweet and moving, and full of heart. DST's simple, straight forward but richly effective production of the classic story is poignant and beautiful. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

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