Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
Studebaker Theater bypassed Thanksgiving ad went straight to Christmas in this adorable Jim Henson's EMMET OTTER'S JUG-BAND CHRISTMAS. Despite the popularity of Christmas, Thanksgiving should be noticed, as it holds its significance and traditions of expressing gratitude for the cherished people in our lives. But one could say that Jim Henson's EMMET OTTER'S JUG-BAND CHRISTMAS is all about being thankful. This 1971 children's book, written by Russell Hoban and illustrated by Lillian Hoban about the story of Emmet Otter and his Ma, a widow who scrapes by on the small amount of money she gets from doing laundry, and Emmet gets from doing odd jobs around their home in the town of Frogtown Hollow. As Christmas approaches, they hear of a talent contest, where the winner would receive a fifty-dollar prize. Both Emmet and Ma decide to enter the competition, hoping to win and buy each other a nice present. Emmet wants to buy Ma a piano for Ma to replace the one she had to hock for food, so he joins a jug band but has to hock Ma's washtub to make a bass. Ma, seeing her son's desire for a guitar he saw in the Musical Emporium store window, decides to sing a song but needs a new dress and hocks Emmet's tool chest, which he needs for odd jobs. Both of them sacrifice each other's livelihood for the talent contest. The television production was developed into a musical in 1977, using a mixture of stage actors, puppet characters, and songs. The cast of actors dressed as animals and puppet woodland creatures features Mayor Harrison Fox and his wife Gretchen Fox, Old Lady Possum, Madame Squirrel, Charlie Muskrat, Wendell Porcupine, Mrs. Mink, Harvey Beaver, a Lizard Snake, Owl, a bunch of Weasels, and Squirrels, which Doc Bullfrog narrates.
The musical mixes stage actors, puppet characters, and songs. The cast includes Andy Mientus (Emmet Otter), Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone (Ma Otter), Jordan Brownlee (Doc Bullfrog), Nick Cearley (Charlie Muskrat), Kevin Covert (Mayor Fox), Emily Rohm (Mrs. Gretchen Fox), Sharriese Hamilton (Mrs. Mink), Sawyer Smith (Madame Squirrel) Steven Huynh (Wendell Porcupine) and Anney Ozar as Old Lady Possum. The entire cast, including Matthew Furtado, Ben Matthew, James Silson, David Stephens and Adam Fane, and Leah Morrow as understudies, was excellent; however, the M&M team of Mientus and Monteleone as Emmet and Ma's relationship touches our soul. Their chemistry and singing were fantastic.
The musical had 17 songs and ran about 75 minutes with no intermission, which is ample time for today's kids; however, that's about two television productions during my childhood, when kids' attention spans only lasted about 30 minutes. Studebaker Theater also considered the length of children's attention spans when they invited families to join them in the lobby, where they could see the show on a monitor if their children needed a break or to stretch their legs. After the performance, the Museum of Ice Cream passed out some delicious ice cream. Based on a book by Timothy Allen McDonald and Christopher Gattelli with a theatrical adaptation from Jim Henson's television special, based on the illustrated book by Russell and Lillian Hoban, this beloved Christmas story, with music from Paul Williams, who wrote my favorite song that Kermit the Frog sang, "The Rainbow Connection," and wrote new songs specifically for the stage show. Jim Henson's EMMET OTTER'S JUG-BAND CHRISTMAS celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2017 and had a special television appearance by Henson's 1955 creation, Kermit the Frog, who temporarily replaced Doc Bullfrog.
Born in Greenville, Mississippi, American puppeteer Jim Henson brings a good-ole-opry, country feel to this musical. Henson, who loved country music, fancying stars like Loretta Lynn, who appeared on the Muppets in 1978, and Jimmy Dean, created Country Music with the Muppets in 1985, features great country stars, John Denver, Johnny Cash, Roy Rogers, and Dale Evans and Loretta Lynn. Even though I've never seen a television dramatization, it will bring back nostalgic childhood memories that will get you in the holiday spirit. It's a yummy treat sure to get you into the Christmas spirit — and a family outing that will bring a smile to children's faces and rekindle the joys of your childhood Christmas. It's a must-see family event!
4 STARS ****
Studebaker Theater
Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
Book by Timothy Allen McDonald & Christopher Gattelli
Music & lyrics by Paul Williams
Directed & Choreography by Christopher Gattelli
Playing now through December 31, 2023
Click above for tickets and below for reviews
