If you've got a preschooler, Dallas Children's Theater has a great production of Goodnight Moon going on. Here's a look at the story I wrote about it for my KidBeat column. Don't forget to look for the review tomorrow:
Margaret Middleton doesn't remember whether she discovered Goodnight Moon browsing at a bookstore or on the recommendation of her sister-in-law more than 60 years ago. She's just glad she did.
The Dallas mom's first child, Kent, was born in 1946. Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon came out the following year. The story of a little bunny who bids a tender goodnight to all the beloved objects in his "great green room" became a favorite not only with Kent (who grew up to become a librarian in Austin), but also with his younger sisters, Barbara and Jane. Ms. Middleton, now 88, has read it to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. And now, she can't wait to catch the Dallas Children's Theater's regional premiere of a musical adaptation of Goodnight Moon FridayJan.25 through Feb. 24.
"I was so excited when I saw that Robyn Flatt [DCT's executive artistic director] is going to do that book," she says on the phone from her home in Dallas. "I thought, though, how in the world is she going to do it?"
The challenge is that the book is only 130 words spread across 32 of exquisitely illustrated pages. It's a simple, singsong tale featuring a little bunny going to bed. It helps that the production fleshes out the story with Chad Henry's musical score, Kathy Burks Theatre of Puppetry Arts puppets perched on the bookshelves and lurking under the bed and lots of slapstick, including bears that dance with chairs, a cow that jumps over the moon and a dish that runs away with the spoon.
And yet, it should all seem comfortingly familiar with the bunny in the great green room inspired by the original illustrations by Clement Hurd."It was so colorful and good with the little ones," Ms. Middleton says of the book. "It was a very good goodnight book, saying goodnight to the clock and such and then saying goodnight to the children. And by the end, when I finished reading, the children always fell asleep."
The book conjures happy memories for Ms. Middleton's daughter Jane Fuchs, 53, of Austin who vividly recalls her mother reading the book to her children when they were small. Her children are now 26, 23 and 19, with the youngest having just left for college.
"It was so soothing," says Ms. Fuchs on the phone from her parents' home where she was visiting. "It was a very good book to calm everything down.It's the one the kids always picked to read before bedtime. I've kept the books that my mom gave the kids when they were born for when I have grandkids."
The book debuted modestly on Sept. 3, 1947, selling 6,000 copies for $1.75 apiece and almost went out of print in 1951. Ms. Brown, who was born in 1910, died from an embolism in 1952. Sales have since surpassed a cumulative 11 million copies and the book, which now costs $16.99 in hardcover, has become an indelible part of the American consciousness, referenced several years ago in a touching episode of ER, with a mom reading it to her adult son, who was dying and in pain, and wanted to hear those words to help him let go.
Ms. Middleton's daughter, Barbara Farnum, 58, of Tyler, has three grown children and three grandchildren - the fourth generation of the Middletons weaned on Goodnight Moon.Having her mother read the book to her oldest, Sharon, now 42, was especially meaningful, she says, because Sharon, who was adopted, has mental retardation.
"Sharon had very little language until she was seven or eight and I remember she really liked that book. I teach special education and we have used it in the classroom. I have never read it to a child who didn't respond to it.They like the repetition - they can take part in it - and they like looking for the mouse in the pictures."
Ms. Farnum also treasures the way the book has become a family tradition."It's become known as the gift that Margaret Middleton gives - to grandkids and friends."
And Ms. Farnum's grandchildren - Ms. Middleton's great grandchildren - Brady, 7, Neeley, 5, and Cami, 3, who live in Robinson, have been happy to receive it.
In fact Brady, who says his dad, Brett Farnum, 32, first read it to him when he was "about zero," is now a first grader who read it to his little sisters for the first time last week.Jan.16.
"They liked it," Brady reports on the phone from his home. "And I liked it, too. I liked how it rhymed. And the part with 'Goodnight nobody' with nothing on the page made me laugh."
Want to extend the fun? The Dallas Children's Theater will be
presenting special events coordinated with Goodnight Moon:
The Jammy Party benefiting Dallas Children's Theater Feb.10 following
the 4:30 p.m. performance. Kids are encouraged to wear pajamas to
attend an after the show experience with a catered picnic dinner
donated by Whole Foods Market, Greenville Avenue, bedtime stories, the
bunny-hop and balloons. $500 for 10. Sponsorship opportunities
available. Space is limited. Call Reg Platt at 214-978-0110 ext. 168 or e-mail reg@dct.org.
Enter to win a red bed like the one in Goodnight Moon from The Wooden
Swing Company. Fill out a form at the Dallas Children's Theater at
5938 Skillman Street or The Wooden Swing Company at 13617 Inwood Road
to win a free My Room Children's Furniture Charleston standard twin bed frame valued at $699.
No purchase required.
Creative Dramatics at Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Park Feb. 5 at 10
a.m. A professional teaching artist form Dallas Children's Theater
will lead a free half-hour creative dramatics workshop for children
involving characters from Goodnight Moon. Story time follows from
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. with the bookstore's story time leader, Ms. Deb.
For ages 3 and up with accompanied adult. No reservations required. 7700 West Northwest Highway. 214-739-1124.
FridayJan.25 through Feb. 24. Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 1:30
p.m., Sundays at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Rosewood Center for Family Arts,
5938 Skillman Street. 214-740-0051. www.dct.org.
$14-$23, $14-$21 youth.
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