Review: THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE at Imagination Stage

An adaptation of Kate DiCarmillo's award-winning book The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane opens the 16/17 season for Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD. While well-acted and presented, the story isn't necessarily for everyone.

Adapted for the stage by Dwayne Hartford, the story follows a china doll rabbit named Edward Tulane through a twenty-year journey starting in 1925 when he is given to a little girl named Abilene (Tia Shearer) by her Aunt Pellegrini (Tonya Beckman). Even though his mouth is sewn shut you can hear what he is thinking throughout the play in the voice of Brandon McCoy. To say that Edward is a bit jaded would be an understatement as he swears he will never love anyone. He has good reason to feel this way though. Throughout the course of the show, he gets thrown overboard from an ocean liner, ends up in a garbage dump, and gets turned into a dancing scarecrow. However, things really change for Edward when he is given to a sick little girl (also played by Shearer) as a gift from her brother (Jaysen Wright). I won't reveal the ending, but let's just say the story comes full circle.

I said at the beginning of this review that this story isn't for everyone and here's why. Imagination Stage is recommending this show for ages six and up, but there are many dark elements to the story. Bottom line is that you should heed the age warning and wait to take your younger children to Disney's Beauty and the Beast, which is Imagination Stage's next attraction.

Imagination Stage's Artistic Director Janet Stanford stages the show with a folksy homespun approach. She just lets the story unwind without any gimmickry or heavy special effects. With the amount of technology being used in theatre nowadays, it's refreshing to see a show that lets the story do its job without any help from, say, crashing chandeliers and helicopters.

Along those same lines, Samina Vieth's set is filled with period furniture and vintage instruments such as washboard. It never overpowers the action. It allows the actors to move freely all over the stage while creating many of the sound effects with the live instruments.

The four-member acting ensemble is first rate throughout. Tia Shearer gives a heartbreaking performance as a little girl dying from tuberculosis and then turns on the attitude as the owner of a Memphis diner. As always, Shearer has an endearing stage presence.

Tonya Beckman never disappoints me when I see her perform. She's one of our most versatile actresses, and her characters run the gamut from our laid back narrator to an evil witch, and vindictive Aunt Pellegrini.

Jaysen Wright shines brightly as the sick girl's brother, and as a starving artist on the streets of Memphis.

Brandon McCoy serves double duty as Edward Tulane and as the production's musical director. His versatility comes through in spades as McCoy's acting and musician skills are used to full advantage.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane might not be totally all that for everyone, but for the right age child and family, Imagination Stage has created a well-executed and performed show that the family can enjoy together while taking away a lesson in how to love for later.

Running Time: 90 minutes with one intermission on the weekends and 75 minutes straight through for school performances.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane runs through Oct 30th 2016 at Imagination Stage which is located at 4908 Auburn Ave, Bethesda, MD. For tickets, click here.

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