Emerson’s Colonial Theatre buzzed with little voices raised in excitement last Saturday as families were seated for “Cat Kid Comic Club: the Musical.”
“Cat Kid” brings humor while teaching expression and creativity to both parents and children alike. While encouraging kids to embrace their differences and imagination, the show urges adults to support their kids’ interests.
“Cat Kid” revolves around the titular character and his sidekick, Molly Pollywog. The play tells the story of their latest mission, helping Blippi, the bionic fish, reign in his 21 troublesome tadpole children. Behind the outrageous plot are lessons that teach kids to embrace what inspires them.
With whimsical characters like Chubbs McSpiderbutt, Dennis the Toothbrush — a lawyer for dinosaurs— and Supa Fail, the baby whose talent is failure, the absurdly entertaining nature of Pilkey’s work translates wonderfully to the stage. Brightly colored costumes and set pieces set the tone from beginning to end, making the stage feel like a comic strip come to life. It’s versatile too: the large block pieces and easel convert into props and pieces for each of the stories told by Blippi’s tadpoles.
The performances are all impressive, as each cast member in the six-person ensemble embraces the silliness, never taking themselves too seriously. Each actor plays multiple parts as each of the comical vignettes is brought to life on stage. The actors skilfully switch back and forth between various light-hearted personalities.
These themes align with the mission of Theaterworks USA, the production company that brings “Cat Kid” around the country. Their past shows focused on adapting other classic children’s titles like “Junie B. Jones” and “Click, Clack Moo.”
“Cat Kid” is specifically based on the work of Dav Pilkey, author of popular series like “Captain Underpants” and “Dog-Man,” another Theaterworks production. The company strives to create transformative experiences that are accessible to family audiences in diverse communities throughout New York City and North America, according to their website.
While Cat Kid’s target demographic may be first through fifth graders, with all its potty humor, strange plot lines, and extravagant nature, the message is important and clear. You could hear just how much it resonated with the children in the audience through their laughter and eagerness to see what was on the stage.
To some, “Cat Kid” might be their first experience with live theater. It might be what inspires someone to write their first comic, or pursue their creative passion. It might even teach adults about the importance of nurturing their child’s imagination and giving kids outlets to express themselves.
Child or not, the zany and silly nature of “Cat Kid” is sure to brighten anyone’s day, and inspire them to honor their own voices and the individuality of others.
