Seattle Children’s Theatre presents “Goodnight Moon,” adapted from the children’s books written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd. Currently running through November 5, the musical is a wonderfully inventive retelling that will tickle the funny bone of those who loved the book while opening one’s eyes to perhaps a deeper world hiding in its sparse prose and simple pictures.
A classic reimagined
“In the great, green room, there was a telephone, and a red balloon, and a picture of a cow jumping over the moon…”
You likely know the rest. Since its release in the fall of 1947, “Goodnight Moon” has enchanted millions of young readers with its whimsical, structured bedtime lullaby. “Goodnight comb. And goodnight brush. Goodnight nobody. Goodnight mush.” Its tempo is hypnotic in a way. As the young Bunny in the story progresses through a nighttime routine, readers can’t help but feel like there is another layer or another world we are missing. Is he just slowly drifting off to sleep? Or is there some other presence at play?
The classic, a staple for every playroom bookshelf and baby shower gift, has confused parents for over 75 years. Why is there a bowl of mush on the table at bedtime? Does a mouse in the bedroom not concern anyone? Who is “nobody”? Thankfully, “Goodnight Moon” is the stage production we didn’t know we needed to answer these burning questions. The result is a sweet, engaging, humorous 75 minutes with friends we feel like we’ve known our entire lives.
A nursery rhyme medley
Playwright and composer Chad Henry first introduced his adaptation of “Goodnight Moon” to the world here in Seattle in 2007. It has traveled around the country since then, but it’s returned home where it first delighted young audiences at SCT. The musical finds Bunny (Molly Corcoran) at bedtime, resistant to the Old Lady (Sasha Conley) attempting to corral her very excited ward into sleep. Unending questions and observations thwart any attempts to wrangle the spirited child. There are far too many exciting and distracting things in the room that are keeping her from sleeping. Along with her friend Mouse (Sarah Garcia), Bunny discovers that every object has a story to tell.
The lamp plays silly games, a bit of imaginative fun that elicited many giggles. The fireplace crackles and cackles in bemusement. “Mr. Nobody” puts on a glowing dance number outside Bunny’s window. The Little Toyhouse shelters some magical friends. There’s even a surprise cameo by a fabulous, singing Tooth Fairy (Antonio Mitchell).
The board book is short and sweet, but the musical dives deeper into storyland, bringing to life the three bears in the picture on the wall. They tap dance and sing and interact with Bunny. Other classic nursery rhyme characters make appearances. The Cow Jumping over the Moon in the picture above the fire comes to life, and after multiple failed attempts to make the leap, he is finally successful thanks to the encouragement of his fellow fairytale friends: the Cat and the Fiddle, the Little Dog Laughed and the Dish Running Away with the Spoon.
Feels like home
Despite a thin premise (or none at all), “Goodnight Moon” makes for a wonderfully full and enchanting musical. The original songs are catchy, cute, and accessible to the youngest in the audience. The story, which follows a young Bunny at bedtime, pulls in other recognizable children’s properties to keep the fun alive. At one point, the Quiet Old Lady Whispering Hush pulls out an oversized copy of “The Runaway Bunny,” another classic by Brown and Hurd. She and Bunny reenact its pages to great effect, garnering laughs throughout the crowd.
Ultimately, the charm of this particular adaptation lies in its immense familiarity to audience members and the nostalgia most hold for its silly, scattered story. There are jokes aimed at the parents that hit right on the nose, and the children in attendance marvel at every whimsical journey the bunny takes. For a sweet, sentimental time, bypass the bedside reading and give the musical, “Goodnight Moon” a whirl instead.
Recommended age
I used the opportunity to introduce my three-year-old, who has never seen any live performance, to her first stage production. Upon first look, she was enamored with the set design, which brought to painstakingly elaborate detail the world of “Goodnight Moon.” Like most toddlers, she is intimately familiar with the book, and to see the room in the flesh was very exciting for her.
At no point are the lights too dimmed – even during Mr. Nobody’s nighttime magical dance – or the noises too loud. My three-year-old is much more easily frightened than her older sister, but she never clung to me in fear or complained that the material was scary. I was worried that, at 75 minutes plus an intermission, the performance would run too long for her attention span. It actually flew by, and she didn’t want it to be over. There were several kids younger than three at our showing and not one of them needed the cry room.
Know before you go
- The show runs through November 5, with a variety of showtimes spanning the morning and evening.
- Runtime is approximately 75 minutes, including one 10-minute intermission.
- The ASL Interpreted Performance is Saturday, October 28, at 1:00 p.m.
- The Audio Described Performance is on Saturday, November 4, at 1:00 p.m.
- The Sensory Friendly/Relaxed Performance is on Sunday, November 5 at 10:30am.
- Seattle Children’s Theatre is located at 201 Thomas Street, Seattle 98109
- Garage and street parking are available with payment. Give yourself ample time if there is an event at Climate Pledge Arena.
- Masks are strongly encouraged but optional.
- Seattle Children’s Theatre is running at full capacity.
All photos by Truman Buffet
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