Purple Purse Holds Many Lessons for Kids

By Thea Glassman
POSTED JANUARY 1, 2008

Lilly is one annoying mouse.

She gets jealous easily, demands attention, and sulks when she is ignored. Nevertheless, “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse,” Manhattan Children’s Theatre’s latest production, manages to charm its audiences (including the parents) into falling for Lilly and her colorful, but problem-ridden, world.

Based on the books by Kevin Henkes and adapted for the stage by Kevin Kling, “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse” tells the story of an eccentric young mouse named Lilly (Drew Honeywell) who is displeased to discover that her new baby brother has stolen all the attention from her normally doting parents.

She finds temporary happiness in the form of a musical purple plastic purse with its sparkly glasses to match. But Lilly’s hopes for attention are dashed when her new accessories go unnoticed by her classmates as well as her teacher Mr. Slinger (Daniel Bartkewicz).

Lilly’s disappointment is just one of the many emotions delicately explored throughout the play, ranging from guilt to jealousy to vanity.

Lilly is played charmingly by Honeywell, who manages to win the audience’s affection, despite her character’s weaknesses. Her presence brightens the stage as she marches around declaring, “I am Lilly, I am the queen, and I like everything!” Lilly’s sidekicks Chester (Mason Rosenthal) and Wilson (Gilbert Molina) also bring a great deal of energy to the production, playing the parts of youngsters without resorting to tired stereotypes of kids.

The entire cast, in fact, never patronizes the audience, allowing even parents to let out a few chuckles of their own.

In addition to the spirited acting, the play’s impressive special effects, designed by John Ivy, also contribute to the fun. A large on-stage screen feels like a magical transport as it takes the audience through Lilly’s crazy imagination.

In one scene, the stage turns menacing when Lilly is banished to the “uncooperative chair” for insulting her little brother.

As the scared little mouse sits in the dreaded seat, an eerie red light flashing down, a large chair begins to morph into an angry monster on the screen behind her. But the stage becomes a bright and cheery place as well when the kids decide to ride their bikes around the world and the screen takes the audience on virtual tours of New York, China and all the way to outer space.

However, just as children must eventually leave the land of make believe, Lilly learns to stop escaping from reality and accept responsibility for her actions.

By the end of the play,  the self-proclaimed “queen of the world” declares that her brother is now the “baby of the world.”

Will Lilly really leave behind her mischievous ways? Maybe not.

To the delight of her rapt audience, Lilly promises no signs of losing her spirit. “I’ll be good forever,” she declares impishly. “Well, as long as possible.”

Manhattan Children’s Theatre,  52 White St., 212-352-3101, www.mctny.org.  $20; $15 2–17, seniors $15. Saturdays and Sundays, noon and 2pm. Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse runs through Feb. 3.

[Home][Back][Search] [Advertise][Contact]
The Tribeca Trib · 401 Broadway, 5th Floor · New York, NY · 10013 · 212.219.9709