Stuck on a tale

THE latest children's theatre production playing at PJ Live Arts at Jaya One in Petaling Jaya, from now till May 28, tells the story of a little boy named Floyd who has a vivid imagination.
When his kite gets stuck in a tree, Floyd (Aaron Teoh) and his harried Mum (Safia Hanifah) end up throwing items such as a ladder, a door, a can of paint, a cat, an orangutan, and even a blue whale, in order to retrieve the kite.
Stuck is based on a ­children's book by Oliver ­Jeffers.

At a recent performance we attended, the play begins with a ­hidden Floyd calling out to his mother to help him because he is "stuck".
As Mum scrambles around looking for Floyd and asking the audience – made up mostly of pre-schoolers – to help her, it is hilarious to watch some of these ­cuties directing her to the usher, who is trying hard to keep a straight face.
On a minimalist stage with just a tree and two bushes, the play relies heavily on the two ­actors, some simple props, clever ­lighting, as well as sound effects, to make the performance engaging.
There are also some catchy songs that give this relatively simple story an added boost.
Safia has done children's ­theatre in the past, including roles in Seussical! and The Ant and the Grasshopper.
She has also performed more serious roles, including playing Datin Seri in Dato' Seri, a Malay adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth.
When asked about the ­difference in approach between a play for children and one for adults, Safia says: "The ­energy that is needed is different. I enjoy performing for kids because they are so clever. They are so ahead of you.
"Another thing about ­performing for kids is that they don't judge you. They only judge the character.
"They will tell the characters you are ­supposed to do this or that. So they really get into the story."
For Teoh, Stuck is his first ­children's theatre production. His previous credits include The Mikado, Merrily We Roll Along and Songs for a New World.
He says that everything the director prepared him for ­actually happened.
"He said the kids would point to the tree and I said: 'Are you sure?'. But that is exactly what happened. They are so heavily invested in the story."
Teoh loves the fact that ­children have no hesitation to point out things, unlike adults. He was blown away by the ­audience's ­reaction when the show first premiered on May 8.
Stuck is directed by Adam Brampton-Smith of UK's The Big Wooden Horse Theatre Company.
Brampton-Smith admits he tends to adapt children's plays from picture books, often a challenge due to its limited storyline.
"You have to take a cue from the book. If it doesn't resonate, then it won't work."
The director adds that he is inspired by the visual references from the book, and leans towards wacky, unusual and even slightly kooky stories.

He has also written and produced The Legend of Perseus, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, The Night Before Christmas and The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, as well as ­adapted another of Jeffers' books – The Way Back Home – for the stage.
Incidentally, this is the ­second time that The Big Wooden Horse has brought Stuck to Malaysia. The ­previous performance was staged three years ago by actors from a British touring group.
For more, visit the PJ Live Arts website.