Four Humors' BOMBUS AND BERYLLINE Comes to Gremlin Theater, Now thru 7/7

Following an award winning run at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, Four Humors returns to the Twin Cities for a three week engagement at the Gremlin Theater with the original work Bombus and Berylline or the Bumblebee and the Hummingbird, tonight, June 21 through July 7. The show is based on character concepts by company members Rachel Petrie and Ryan Lear, paintings from local visual artist Amy Crickenberger Oeth, and stories from children of all ages.

Berylline’s number one goal in life is to be the first hummingbird to successfully complete the Midnight Flight and find the beautiful, nectar-rich Night Blooming Cereus. Her new acquaintance Bombus the Bumblebee knows how to find the elusive flower that only blooms once in a lifetime, but he’s worried he might lose his new friend if she finds out that he can’t fly. Together they have a fun-filled adventure and find out what true friendship is all about.

“Originally, Ryan and I were going to write a children’s book based on the idea,” says Petrie, “but, when the company started talking about new show ideas for the upcoming season, I thought it would make a fantastic theatrical production.”

With this new direction in mind, Crickenberger Oeth created a series of paintings to serve as the inspiration for the two main characters’ adventures. These images were given to children who then described what they thought was happening in the scenes. Four Humors collected the stories, and director Dario Tangelson led actors Rachel Petrie and Jason Ballweber through a collaboration to create a production that combines the wildly imaginative narratives and weaves them together into a touching story of timeless friendship.

“Working on this show is an absolute delight,” says Ballweber. “We are learning a wonderful lesson from working with children; to quit editing ourselves and that if something isn't fun, it is our duty to make it fun.”

Featuring backdrops by Crickenberger Oeth and live musical accompaniment by Ryan Lear, Bombus and Berylline is a fun-filled adventure that the whole family can enjoy.

Gremlin Theater is located 2400 University Avenue West, Saint Paul, Minn. Performances: June 21 – July 7, 2012, Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays at 7pm, Saturdays at 11am and 5pm and Sundays at 2pm and 5pm. Tickets are available at the door or at FourHumorsTheater.com. Prices are $12 adults, $10 students, seniors and fringe button holders, $7 children 12 and under. Monday June 25 and July 2 are pay-what-you-can.

Photo credit: Deogracias Lerma