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As once so famously said by a bear of very little brain, “sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart”, and when looking at the West Coast debut of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation, it’s hard to disagree. Our favorite silly old bear is bringing all of his pals from the Hundred Acre Wood and preparing for a new adventure that is very clearly as sweet as honey.
Much like Pooh himself, this production has a very big heart, sticky stuck full of touching moments and family-filled fun that is perfect for Winnie the Pooh fans both young and ninety nine. Bouncing and trouncing into a 60 minute runtime, the show creates a splendid mix of theatrical artistry that is all made possible with the stunning use of life sized puppetry, practical stage elements, and an endless amount of imagination.
The entire production excels by staying simple, giving its small and mighty ensemble of players the chance to unlock a very genuine and special connection with the audience without the heavy use of over the top effects and distracting smoke and mirrors.
It all comes down on the shoulders of five puppeteers, each taking on multiple roles to bring Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga, and Roo to life on stage with ease, delivering a magical experience that pulls the audience right into the story; making it no challenge at all for these players to blend into the background and allowing their plush counterparts to shine through. You really believe in these characters, just as you would if they were on the silver screen or in the pages of your cherished book of adventures.
Yet, it would be hard not to notice the level of enthusiasm that is placed in each and every part of the production, creating a contagious sense of joy. It really speaks to the level of care that went into bringing this story off the pages of A.A Milne’s classic tales onto the stage for all to experience in this new format. The end result is a straightforward and flawless performance that plays right into the very center of the honey pot that Pooh covets so tenderly.
This production also makes sure to hold onto the magical musical musings that have helped made Winnie the Pooh such a staple in the Disney community, bringing forward a brand new score for fans to experience. Composed by Nate Edmondson, the new score features iconic elements of songs written by the legendary Sherman Brothers, including Winnie the Pooh, The Blustery Day, The Wonderful Thing About Tigger’s, Whoop-De-Dooper Bounce, and A.A. Milne’s The More It Snows.
It also lends itself to many familiar story and character elements that are presented in an easy-to-follow series of mini expositions, making this the perfect introduction into musical theater for even the smallest of children. It’s an incredibly fun and memorable experience, staying true to the core of what has made Pooh and all the creatures of the wood so special for over 95 years. It’s a gift that you will not want to miss this holiday season!
Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation will run on a limited engagement with showtimes through December 30th at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Ticket prices range from $35 to $99 with special VIP and Meet and Greet packages. Make sure to come see what will be sure to be one of the most fun and charming live experiences of the holiday season before another blustery day blows it away!
You can purchase tickets by clicking here!
