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“Bunnicula,” opening tonight, has a talking dog and a talking cat, but the title rabbit doesn’t talk.
Unlike a typical OFT animal, the rabbit is played not by a person but by a puppet.
“It’s an amazing 4-foot puppet,” said Peter Kappler, who’s directing the musical. “It’s so wonderful to see it on stage. I think the kids are going to love it.”
The puppet, built by Mark Gerth, has a moveable head, arms and ears. It will be operated on stage by Angela Yoder, who’s in charge of props for the show.
“The puppet is a character and a prop as well,” Kappler said. So though she hasn’t acted since college, Yoder has become a character in the show because she’ll be visible on stage with Bunnicula.
“She’s free to express what the puppet is feeling, too,” Kappler said. “It’s like what people do when they mime. They don’t say anything, but you can see their face and you can see their expressions.”
“It’s really easy to tell how I’m feeling,” Yoder said. “I guess I don’t hide things very well. So he thought I’d be a great person to puppeteer Bunnicula. There are some parts in the play where he’s feeling very sad or sick, so I show sadness in my face. Or I catch myself laughing as we’re running through the show.”
Bunnicula is a bit of a mystery. He finds a family to take him in, and the family cat, Chester, is suspicious.
“The sibling rivalry is something the kids in the audience can really understand,” Kappler said. “Chester starts fearing the worst almost immediately about the bunny, and in a way he’s correct. There is something strange going on. The bunny does have supernatural powers. But he’s not a threat.
“He’s a vegetarian vampire.”
Yoder said, “The show has kind of a vampire feel to it, but it’s not scary. It’s funny.”
Olympia Family Theater is recommending the show for ages 5 and older, and Kappler said there is plenty of humor that will appeal to older kids and adults.
The puppet is not the only special feature.
“The special effects are going to be really fun for the kids, too,” he said. “The rabbit disappears and reappears. There’s thunder and lightning, stuff like that.” ‘Bunnicula’
What: Olympia Family Theater kicks off its season with a musical about a vampire bunny and the family that takes him in.
When: 7 p.m. today and Oct. 6, 7, 13 and 14; 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and Oct. 8, 9, 15 and 16; and 4:30 p.m. Oct. 8 and 15
Where: Black box theater at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. S.E., Olympia
Tickets: $16; $13 students, seniors and military; $9 kids younger than 12; $5 at the door the first Thursday of each run. Buy tickets to three or more shows and save 10 percent.
More information: olyft.org, 360-570-1638, 360-753-8586
THE REST OF THE SEASON
“A Christmas Story” (Dec. 2- 18 at South Puget Sound Community College’s Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts, 2011 Mottman Road S.W., Olympia): The theatrical version of the film follows Ralphie Parker on his BB gun quest.
“The Phantom Tollbooth” (Feb. 3-19): Based on the book by Norton Juster, this youth-only production — journeys with Milo to the mythical Kingdom of Wisdom, where dwell such characters as the Mathemagician.
“Animal Farm” (March 23-April 8): The play is an adaptation of George Orwell’s novel about a group of animals who drive out the farmer and take over the farm.
“Goodnight Moon” (May 18-June 3): Based on the classic kids’ book about a bunny on his way to dreamland.
