Review: JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH Teaches Us What Family Really Means

Dream Weaver Musical Theatre is a local theatre company homed at the Jewett Auditorium in Caldwell, however since the spring they have been bringing their productions to Boise as well. This production they performed JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. They are one of 13 groups licenced this year to perform this show, so it is new to the Treasure Valley. This night they are at Boise High School. Many of the doors are locked due to it being a high school, so it was a little adventure to find, but it was a part of the fun.

The show opens on a carnival with dim lighting. Canned music plays. I sit here trying to remember the book from... well, we won't say how many years ago... and the movie, which was much more recent. The first set is in the dark with a gentle glow until the chorus when everyone comes on. It helps to set the mood and the tone to come.

James is in an orphanage, dreaming about his parents. He is lonely becausewe only see him talking to a lady bug and grasshopper. He has a strong singing voice for a young man. Happy news, they found family in Dover for James. Then we meet the aunts and instantly feel for James. They are gaudy, crass, and rude, not the family for such a sweet boy.

They still have some bugs to work out [no pun intended], but their set pieces are functional and look great for not having been made in place but having to travel. They will have to find some lights to focus on stage right. There is darkness and some of the actors are young and are not used to "finding their light".

The vaudvillian barker narrator character has a great voice - many of the cast do. The music is very fun and catchy. You can tell that the cast enjoy performing it. That always makes a performance even more enjoyable.

Well, we find that the peach grew becuase of magic crocodile tongues. The peach grew very large and one night James was pulled into the peach. Then we find that the insects ate the crocodile tongues and they grew as well. The rest of the show is about the journey that happens as the peach floats away from his only remaining relatives to New York City.

The peach was a well designed set piece. It was a bit combersome for scene changes because it had to be safe for the actors to stand and dance on, but it looked great. When the peach was turned around, it had a terrific texture, it looked like it was made of styrofoam [but a local company- L2 Insulation donated supplies and time and built a custome wood frame and coated it with high density insulation foam] , but it looked like velvet, peach skin even.The costuming of the people/insects were very imaginative. I bet the cast enjoyed wearing them.

What is the moral of the story? Does the story have a moral? Does it need a moral? I think if anything, the moral is about family. How to find them and that they can come in all shapes and sizes. Come and join the Dream Weaver Musical Theatre family and become a member of their family for a night. You will be welcomed home!

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Boise High School, September 11th and 12th

Caldwell Jewett Auditorium, October 2nd and 3rd

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