The Cat in the Hat Review: A WP Presents! Family Friendly Show
We have all suffered from the boredom and cabin fever of a rainy day, however Sally and Nick are quickly introduced to the Cat in the Hat that turns all of that upside down. The Cat in the Hat offers some games despite the protests of the goldfish. The day may seem fun at first but quickly gets out of control with the arrival of Thing 1 and Thing 2.
Dr. Seuss’ classic story of The Cat in the Hat has been read in homes for decades. It resonates with young children with its’ rhyming voice, bright and surreal imagery, as well as the quirky characters that only Dr. Seuss has been able to imagine. The story has been made into a cartoon, a movie, as well as a children’s play.
On the campus of William Paterson University is the home of WP Presents which hosts a diverse quality of programs including family friendly shows. We were lucky to be guests of the Cat in the Hat performance to review this show which was performed by ChildsPlay on November 21, 2015 at 2pm in the Shea Auditorium. As this was our first attendance at WP Presents show, let me give you some details.
The family friendly shows occur on specific dates and are not offered for a set period of time. WP Presents seeks out programs that offer engaging messages with artistic talent that is designed so that young children feel comfortable and captivated. Parking is accessible and free located next to Shea Auditorium. The seats are very comfortable and I found it easy to walk down the aisle.
What I really love is that the family series offer craft activities an hour before the show. The crafts are related to the show which gets kids excited for the performance. Please check their website as not all programs have this offering. In addition, after the show, the characters sit at a table to sign autographs which is also a nice feature of the WP Presents programs.
Mommy University Presents
5 Reasons Cat in the Hat is All That
Encourages Art Appreciation
The Cat in the Hat remains true to the vision of Dr. Seuss’ artwork and that is apparent from every detail in the show from costumes to props to set design. Children in the audience could be overheard talking about the show which was wonderful to hear. The boy seated behind us enthusiastically identified Thing 1 and Thing 2 right before their arrival. What my son appreciated the most in the show was the physical humor incorporated into The Cat in the Hat. The actors were perfectly timed and synchronized with each other and the accompanying music.
Promotes Children’s Curiosity
At the end of the show, the actors appeared on the stage to allow a Question and Answer period. By asking questions children interacted with the actors developing a new level of appreciation for theater. I found this to be a wonderful opportunity for children to ask questions in a safe space which promotes them to be curious.
The cast is available after the show for autographs as well as a Question and Answer session.
Promotes Family Bonding
Since the Cat in the Hat is a story that has been read across generations, parents and children will enjoy sharing this story together. The physical humor in the performance had my son (and my husband) laughing quite often. The show was performed in a manner which everyone enjoyed one aspect or another.
Invites Children to Get Crafty
As I mentioned, the hour before the family shows children are invited to make an easy craft that is designed to correlate to the show. In the case of The Cat in the Hat, children could color an illustration as well as make cat whiskers. The craft was easy for small children, well organized, and staffed with plenty of enthusiastic WP Presents staff. This craft was great for creativity as well as developing fine motor skills.
Cat whiskers were a great art project the kids enjoyed making.
Sparks Conversations
Even as a child The Cat in the Hat was an interesting story. While we love The Cat, he does cause a bit of trouble. This story is not as clean-cut as other children’s story which is why I believe this story opens conversations between parents and kids. By bringing children to theatrical performances we are encouraging them to think about the world around them and this performance is no different.
The kids had a fabulous time at WP Presents!
Our first time at WP Presents was truly amazing! We look forward to seeing Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas on December 5th at 2pm (the craft starts at 1:15pm). We hope to see you there!
Mommy University received free tickets in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own. Mommy University is partners with WP Presents in promoting their family friendly shows.