Adri and the Bean: A Review

Ever since my second daughter Aven joined our little family 8 months ago, I make a concerted effort to have weekly one on one time with my almost 5 year old, Adri. Our Mommy Dates have ranged from outings to the playground and library, movies and lunch, spa and shoe shopping, to trampoline parks and Playland! I felt like we had almost exhausted the novel when I came across this post by Parrish Wilson over at Just Another Mompreneur. Adri and I were the lucky winners of 2 tickets to see Jack and the Bean, the Presentation House Theatre’s latest offering for children.

It was an exciting outing from start to finish. We chose the 7pm performance, which prompted Adri to inquire, as we were getting ready “Mommy can I wear my pyjamas since we’re going out in the middle of the night?” Despite the urge to dress fancy for our date, we both chose comfy outfits and I’m glad we did as parents and children alike are encouraged to sit in “the garden” on the floor for this very interactive show (there are regular theatre seats as well if you are unable to sit on the floor or just choose to be a party pooper).

Right from the beginning both Adri and I were transfixed. This is not a show just for kids with adults simply tagging along. Despite being a 2 man show the room was filled with the larger then life characters who skillfully interacted with us in the garden while keeping the narrative moving along seamlessly. Threaded through the laughing, singing and dancing (yes we did a conga line!) the kids learned how to compost, how some bugs help to fertilize a garden and even a bit about old Hollywood – as the giant named all the flowers in his garden after great silver screen actors. It was worked into the dialogue so smoothly that it didn’t feel like a play striving to be educational, it simply was. We each left with a magic bean and the desire to cultivate beautiful, magical gardens of our own.

It was our first time attending a performance at the Presentation House and if Jack is any indication of the calibre of their work, it most certainly won’t be the last. At $10 per ticket, it is an excellent value and having seen it once for free, I would pay to see it a second time – it was that good! I’ve already subscribed to their mailing list so I don’t miss out on any future kids shows, and I have my eye on a few of their musical offerings for next date night with hubby. Sinterklaas will definitely be slipping some tickets into Adri’s klompen this year!