What an evening at MSU Summer Circle! We did the whole three-ring circus and had a great time. Everyone should see at least ONE of their shows this season to check out the wonderful, minimal mosquito, new outdoor performing arena behind the Auditorium Building (corner of Farm Lane and Auditorium Road.)

The Tail of Peter Rabbit was a charming adaptation of the Beatrix Potter classic, written by the clever Rob Roznowski, and directed by Deric McNish. Ryan Duda as Peter turned in an olympic level of hopping, jumping, tail shaking, and general garden-robbing mayhem. The talented Jacqueline Wheeler aced the role of benevolent rule-making Mother rabbit, with delightful turns as sparrows and mouse. Lee Cleaveland was gruffly subtle as the not-all-bad Mr. MacGregor, trying to protect his business interests from the rebellious, revengeful young rabbit. Katie Noyes was fantastic in the wonderfully imaginative role of Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail. Flopsy and Mopsy were large hand puppets, haughtily chastising their brother, with Katie’s real, rabbit-eared head voicing the nuanced commentary of the incongruously reasonable Cottontail.The addition of music and lyrics by music director Chelle Peterson added another level of fun. As with last year’s “The Summer Circle” script by Roznowski, this is thoroughly enjoyable for parents and kids alike’ our 6, 7 and 9 year olds gave it a thumbs up. The hour-long Peter Rabbit performs Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 pm through June 27.

Parents redeemed our grandkids, so we could stay for The Book of Liz which turned out to be our favorite summer show so far with script by talented comic siblings David and Amy Sedaris. (This is appropriate for age 8 and older.) It had the wacky silliness and energy of the Musketeers and Mr. Burns… but also had a real, follow-able (if bizarre) plot line and characters we could keep straight, and, in the case of Liz, care about. Anne Folino White directed her exceptional cast of — what?! only four? — in a wild romp originating in an Amish-like (Squeamish) community — and following our inspiring heroine Liz (Carolyn Conover) through a series of plot twists involving Mr. Peanut, profuse sweating, and cheese balls. Carolyn doubled as the decrepit Brother Hesikiah, and the other three cast members played 13 other distinct and hilarious characters with very entertaining set and costume changes. Only ONE hilarious show left - 8pm Saturday the 20th at 8 pm.

An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein follows about 20 minutes after Liz, probably closer to 9:30 than 10 (since both Liz and Silverstein are only about an hour and 15 minutes each) It is a series of diverse and imaginative cartoonish sketches, definitely meant for adults… probably PG 13? A Silverstein-drawing-inspired set of handy, fold-out, line-drawing backdrops (Chris Stowell) worked well. Again, four energetic, and talented actors bounced themselves among 25 characters: Imani Bonner, Joshua Gronlund, Kirill Sheynerman and Grace Hinkley. I was particularly impressed with the wide range of characters portrayed by Grace. It was hard to believe her disappointed child and her tough-as-nails interrogator were the same person. This is a fun variety-pack assortment, with an adult version of the quirky wit you may know from Silverstein’s whimsical poems for children — but don’t bring the children! This show repeats Saturday the 20th, and also after the upcoming “The American Plan” which shows at 8pm June 24-27 with Silverstein following on Friday and Saturday only. (Bring a jacket/blanket; it gets chilly when the sun goes down.)

Last night’s show was rained out so the extremely energetic cast of Mr. Burns, a post electric play has only ONE MORE SHOW (Saturday, 8 pm) Those of you who are NOT attending the Barneys at Riverwalk tomorrow can catch this three-ring circus and maybe explain to ME the deeper meanings?

The wonderful new MSU Summer Circle venue behind the Auditorium building (corner of Farm Lane and Auditorium) is a beautiful and practical showplace and “Mr. Burns” filled it with energy, and entertaining pop culture references, most notably, of course, “The Simpsons” — and the Cape Feare episode. We meet our cast of survivors, at first retelling this episode to amuse/distract themselves in a post-electric world, against a backdrop of fear and paranoia and loss. We see them again seven years later and then 75 years later, presenting increasingly elaborate, eventually almost Greek-mythologized versions of the episode, plus other homages to “the electric” and commercials as art. 

The cast is to be commended for immense energy, fun choreography (by director Rob Roznowski & the cast with dance captain Andrew Buck) sometimes a cappella singing (there are three instrumentalists) music director Dave Wendelberger.  Still, I came away feeling like the script by Anne Washburn was an ice cream sundae with too many toppings. 

Maybe it’s meant to both entertain and “make us think” but it raises more questions than it answers. There are many possible analogies of the Simpsons to Everyman/Family — with the irrepressible stalking by Sideshow Bob… and why/how did he seem to morph into Mr. Burns in the third act? Are the multiple actual versions of Cape Fear analogous to the multiple recreations of the Simpsons episode? Are we mythologizing pop culture of the past with no good reason — or does the perpetual violence of Itchy and Scratchy et al. reflect on the perpetual fear-based nature of humanity…?

Or is it just for fun? which it is… (Don’t let “three acts” scare you; the whole show is only two hours — and you can stay for the Shel Silverstein Late Show… and come early (6:30) for the Peter Rabbit family show — which we plan to catch next week.)

It DOES get chilly when the sun goes down. Bring your lawn chairs, a jacket, and maybe a blanket? Picnic food? (concession stand available.)The rest of the Summer Circle season is listed below:

MSU’s SUMMER CIRCLE 2015:  GREAT STORYTELLING
In each play, storytelling changes lives…
in the NEW COURTYARD behind the Auditorium Building

Mr. Burns, a post electric play by Anne Washburn, Score by Michael Friedman, Lyrics by Anne Washburn (Rob Roznowski director/Dave Wendelberger Musical Director) play with music  
In a post apocalyptic world an episode of “The Simpsons” could be the answer to humanity.
APPROPRIATE FOR 12 and up.  6/10-13 @ 8:00PM

The Book of Liz by David Sedaris and Amy Sedaris (Ann Folino White director)
Master storyteller David Sedaris and his comedic genius sister Amy tell the story of cheese ball-maker Liz.
APPROPRIATE FOR 8 and up. 6/17-6/20 @ 8:PM

The American Plan by Richard Greenberg (Mark Colson director)
A 1960s Catskill’s resort is the perfect setting for Lili to tell her “tales” in order to survive her overbearing mother.
APPROPRIATE FOR 13 and up. 6/24-27 @ 8:00 PM

Late Night: Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein (Paige Conway director)
Children’s author Shel Silverstein takes avery adult look at life.
APPROPRIATE FOR MATURE AUDIENCE ONLY 6/12, 6/13, 6/19, 6/20, 6/26, 6/27 following the mainstage show @approximately 10:00PM 

Theatre for Young Audiences: The Tail of Peter Rabbit: New play by Rob Roznowski with music by Chelle Peterson. (Deric McNish director) 
Beatrix Potter’s old tale/tail gets a makeover in this new play.
APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES 6/12, 6/13 6/19, 6/20, 6/26, 6/27 @ 6:30 PM