A Parent's Review: Perô, or The Mysteries of the Night
By Laura Spruce Wight
Children's theater has the rather daunting task of winning the hearts of children and their parents. Perô, or The Mysteries of the Night, a collaborative production by The Seattle Children's Theatre and the Dutch theater company, Speeltheater Holland, draws both young and old into a seemingly simple story that both entertains and moves the soul. The puppets and sets appear minimalist and even stark, but come to life in magical, unexpected ways that delight the senses. What appears black and white is anything but.
Perô, a Dutch play based on the children's book by Michel Tournier, is about an Italian baker, Perô (played by Matt Wolfe) who works at night, and Columbina (played by Jennifer Sue Johnson), a washerwoman who works during the day. The two childhood friends are kept apart as adults not because of distance, (they live next door to one another in nearly identical simple white houses) but by fear.
Columbina is afraid of the dark, so avoids venturing out at night when Perô bakes and Perô is too afraid to state his love for Columbina outright. Poor Perô closes his bakery “due to broken heart” when the love of his life is swept off her feet by the colorful painter Paletino, who makes the flour-dusted baker pale in comparison. The comedic and touching trio is observed by the self-assured, opera-singing sun (played by Corinna Lapid Munter) and the heartsick, piano-playing moon (played by Mark Rabe).
The story of an old friendship that's tested by the entrance of a flashy new kid appeals to children. The tale operates on another level for parents who watch as a woman runs off with the dashing splash of color, realizes she has lost herself in the marriage, and then returns to her true self and the one who was good for her all along.
The more mature subject matter went over my 6-year-old's head who was enraptured by the simpler nature of the story. She felt very sorry for Perô at “half-time” (what she calls the intermission) and was eager for the play to resume to see what would happen next.
Perô is a play with European flavor that will appeal to audiences here because of its universal themes. It does not condescend to younger audience members – but rather invites them to become emotionally involved with the characters in a way children's theater rarely allows.
From the set design to the plot, Perô is about something simple that resonates more deeply. As I drove home, scanning the storefronts for an open bakery, I found myself hoping that my daughter will somehow manage to avoid the trappings of the Paletinos of the world and see the value of the Perôs, friends who are steady and true. She spent the next day playing with some formerly forgotten puppets, testing out how to make them express sadness, joy, and friendship.
IF YOU GO
WHERE: Seattle Children's Theatre's Eve Alvord Theatre, 201 Thomas St. in Seattle, located at the west entrance of Seattle Center, just north of Pacific Science Center and west of the Space Needle.
WHEN: Through Feb. 14. Weekday performances at 7 p.m., weekend performances at 2 and 5:30 p.m. ASL interpreted performance on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m.
ADMISSION: From $15 for children up to $34 for adults, depending on the day and time of the show. Discounts for groups of 10 or more are available by calling the Group Sales Office at 206–859-4054. Perô is recommended for ages 6 and up.
