Review: A REAL BOY at 59E59 Theaters Brings Important Issues to the Stage

"There's no color in this child's life."

by Miss Terry in A Real Boy

The World Premiere of A Real Boy is now onstage at 59E59 Theaters through August 27. Written by Stephen Kaplan and directed by Audrey Alford, this cleverly staged show provides a view of how parenting, education, and government policy can affect a young child.

In A Real Boy, two puppets, Mary Ann and Peter Myers adopt a human child, Max. Max's parents make every effort to be attentive and raise him lovingly. But his kindergarten teacher, Miss Terry believes that the child's welfare is at stake and that her influence over him is the most important part of his development. She soon becomes fanatical and takes custody of Max in her classroom, even ignoring the advice of the school's principal. Her actions ignite a controversy throughout the community that threatens the schools integrity, the rights of the Myers family, and Max's future. A Real Boy effectively challenges ideas about individual values, acceptance, and the role of institutions.

The cast features a group of thespians that capture their roles. They include Jamie Geiger as Principal Klaus; Jenn Remke as Miss Terry; Brian Michaels as Peter Myers; Jason Allan Kennedy George as Mary Ann Myers; Katie Braden as Jilly Lambert; Danie Steel as Rebecca Landel; Alexander Bello as Max Myers; Kelley Selznick as Max Myers at select performances. Brian Michael and Jason Allan Kennedy George also portray the puppet parents.

A Real Boy is being performed in 59E59 Theaters' intimate space. The show takes place in both a kindergarten classroom and the home of the Myers family. The design team has brought the production to life with set design by Ann Beyersdorfer; lighting design by Jenn Fok; costume design by Tristan Raines; and sound design by Megan Culley. The puppets are designed and built by Puppet Kitchen. The production stage manager is Stephanie Kay Garcia.

A Real Boy is a unique and thought provoking piece of theater. See it while it is on the 59E59 Theaters stage.

A Real Boy is presented by Ivy Theatre Company in association with Athena Theatre. The show runs for 1 hour and 50 minutes with one intermission. It being performed for a limited engagement through Sunday, August 27. The performance schedule is Tuesday to Friday at 7:30 PM; Saturday at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Single tickets are $25 ($17.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

Photo Credit: Heidi Bohnenkamp

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