The Jungle Book

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Theatre Review by Christina Manolescu</MARQUEE>

Children’s literature, with its tradition of anthropomorphism, often presents animals speaking and resembling their human counterparts. Well, there is a new twist to this story; this time it’s Mowgli, the human child, accidentally left behind in the jungle (Gosh, someone was careless!), who takes on creature form, having been adopted and raised by some super friendly jungle denizens that protect and teach him the laws of his ‘unnatural’ environment. __

For the brief space and time of this performance, the animal kingdom ascends onto an equal par with humankind, which is more than apropos at the beginning of the 21st century, given its growing sensitivity to the virtues of eco-balance, co-existence with and respect for Nature and universal life.

As such, this old moral fable of friendship, loyalty and belonging takes on a renewed patina under the lens of our contemporary sensibility and ethos.

Paula Jean Hixson embodies quite a ‘presence’ with her masterful quality of voice. Amongst other creatures she portrays Raksha, the surrogate mother of Mowgli. As Akela, the wolf pack leader, she challenges Shere Khan, the Bengal Tiger (Chip Chuipka), in his lifelong feud against Mowgli—literally, a ‘persona’ non grata. Hixson’s singing voice also lends a haunting quality to this dramatic re-creation.

Ana Cappelluto’s lighting and Amy Keith’s stage design work together, creating lavish, multi-layered sliding backdrops and colourful projections, flowing with movement, action and surprise. From Kristie Ibrahim comes the subliminal sound of percussion and drumming, complementing the theatrical mood.

Among the many comic creations is Kaa, the jewel-eyed coiling python, wielded across the stage and given voice by a bare-footed Hixson in one of her many creature incarnations.

Glenda Braganza, as Tabaqui the Golden Jackal, has an enviable flexibility and fluidity of movement; she’s also wonderfully expressive in her gestures and postures, her strong clear voice and cheeky comic tone.

Quincy Armorer, in the mask of Bagheera, the Black Panther, sombrely portrays Mowgli’s tutor in the wild. Ditto, although in a much more comic vein, is Harry Standjofski, sporting his furry costume of Baloo, the Bear.

Finally, Oliver Koomsatira as Mowgli himself, human hybrid and outsider—neither quite one, nor the other—shines as accomplished acrobat, martial artist and athlete. In this performance, he’s required somehow to resolve the dilemma of his imposed isolation (the classic immigrant experience, really), having a foothold in alternate worlds, which he strives vainly to unite, having access everywhere while truly belonging nowhere.

The Jungle Book plays till Sunday, May 4, 2008 at D.B. Clarke Theatre, Concordia University main campus building.


Orphaned in the jungle as an infant and adopted by a wolf pack, young Mowgli the man-cub is taught the Laws of the Jungle by Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther. As Mowgli discovers himself and his place as a human, the jungle’s greatest menace Shere Khan the Bengal Tiger prepares to finish the kill he abandoned years ago.

A stunning set design by Amy Keith along with inventive lighting by award-winning designer Ana Cappelluto unveils the mysterious depths of the jungle on the stage. Monkeys, hyena, wolves and more come to life with Susana Vera’s costumes & masks while percussionist Kristie Ibrahim will be onstage creating the soundscape of lush jungle rhythms. Stage management is provided by Melanie St-Jacques.

The accomplished ensemble cast include: Quincy Armorer (Romeo & Juliet, Centaur Theatre), Glenda Braganza (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Geordie Productions), Chip Chuipka (My Old Lady, Segal Centre), Paula Jean Hixson (Housekeeping and Homewrecking, Théâtre St. Catherine), Harry Standjofski (Hellfire Pass, Centaur Theatre), and introducing Oliver Koomsatira as Mowgli.

Canadian playwright-actor Tracey Power won over the hearts of Montrealers on her cross-Canada tour of Living Shadows, A Story of Mary Pickford, declared by CBC Montreal as “The Best Show of The Montreal Fringe” in 2006. The Jungle Book is her first adaptation and was developed with the assistance of Brian Dooley, the Citadel Theatre Play Development Program and Playwright’s Workshop Montreal.

Geordie is a professional theatre company that has presented live English-language theatre for young audiences for over twenty-five years. Based in Montreal, Geordie’s School Tour travels extensively from the Far North to all across Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes, bringing many communities their only opportunity to see live theatre. Geordie's Montreal Mainstage Series presents both well-loved classics and exciting new work by contemporary Canadian playwrights to families and school groups at the D.B. Clarke Theatre in downtown Montreal.