“Now Rann the Kite brings home the night
That Mang the Bat sets free-
The soo is shut both cage and hut
But loosed till dawn are we.
This is the hour of pride and power,
Talon and tush and claw.
Ohm hear rhw call!-Good hunting to all
That keep the Jungle Law”
- Rudyard Kipling
If you hurry, to San Diego State University Theatre this weekend., you can celebrate a late Valentine’s with the kids? Show you love them and catch "Jungle Book," an exciting new adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic story, adapted and directed by Margaret Larlham. With orginal music composed by Thomas Hodges.
Mowgli, Jensen Olaya and friends
Jungle Book is set in a secret jungle in Balboa Park (this version) - a magical spot in between the foliage and vines surrounded by zoo, park, and freeways. Where Mowgli, ( Jensen Olaya) a lost child, brought up by a pack of wolves, learns survival and the "Laws of the Jungle" from Baloo ( Wyatt Ellison) the bear and Bagheera ( Diahann McCrary) the panther. Eventually, he comes to a showdown with his old nemesis, the cunning and sinister tiger, Shere Kahn ( Phil Kruse).
This classic tale is not the Disney version, with cute animals who sing and dance their way through the jungle, but a more sophisticated version featuring eighteen San Diego State University theatre students bringing to life the adventures of Mowgli, Baloo, Bagheera, and Shere Kahn through new songs and lively actions.
Bird like character
The audience seemed to enjoy the play laughing throughout at the animal antics. The costumes were inventive, and the acting captivating. The girl, I’m not sure of the characters name, but the sidekick to Shere Kahn, did an excellent job, stealing the limelight a few times. Another standout was the magnificent bird-like character. Sorry, but the character names were hard to catch. However, if you attend the performance you won’t miss the characters I’m referring to.
To further capture the little ones in the audience at intermission, a couple actors from the play taught them how to become some of the animals, by showing them how to make the animal sounds and do some of the animal movements from the play. Everyone stood up and joined in the fun.
One of the colorul costumes
The Don Powell theatre is located mid-campus with seating for five-hundred patrons. Parking is not close, arrive early and plan to walk.
You can catch one of the two remaining shows at the Don Powell Theatre on campus at San Diego State University, February 16th @ 4:00pm and 17th @ 2:00pm. Cost $13 - $15.
If you miss this show, in March the students will be performing " Hamlett Blood on the Brain" at the Experiment Theatre. And " Urinetown", a musical, is coming in April back at the Don Powell Theatre.. Quite a diverse offering this season. Which means something should appeal to most theatre goers with this sort of line-up. And most likely the intention of the theater department, to showcase their actors and to draw in the more people. Check out the San Diego State University School of Theatre, Television, and film website at theatre.sdsu.edu or phone 619.594.6365 for more information.
Shere Kahn- Phil kruse
