JUNGLE BOOK by Carol Kaufman Segal

            An amazing and unusual production of Jungle Book, adapted from the book by Rudyard Kipling, is being presented at the Pasadena Playhouse.  The way in which the story is presented live is fantastic.  The jungle, with trees, leaves, and many of the animals, is created by outstanding technologies that include shadows, projections, lights, and silhouettes.  It almost seems surreal.

            Rick Miller, who co-wrote and directed Jungle Book with Craig Francis said “Although the Mowgli stories in Kipling’s The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book have been often adapted for film and TV, there are also other stories in the books about different animals from around the world that we can’t wait to introduce to Pasadena.”  And this is what makes this Jungle Book production so special.

            Mowgli (Levin Valayil), the young boy who was raised in the jungle, leaves to go to the city because though he has lived in the jungle for many years, he is not accepted by many of the animals because he is too human.  On the other hand, in the city, he is not accepted by the humans because he is too much of an animal.  It is a touching story in which a young boy is trying to find where he belongs. 

            Along with Mowgli and Baloo the Bear, many of Kipling’s characters are brought to life through poems and songs from the original novel and all of the people involved in the production.  I was amazed to realize that only four actors created all of the characters.  The cast also included Miriam Fernandes (Shere Khan, Kaa, Maya, Others), Matt Lacas (Akela, Baloo, Buldeo, Others), and Anita Majumdar (Raksha, Bagheera, Messua, Others.)  

            Jungle Book is playing Tuesdays at 8 PM, Wednesdays at 10 AM, Thursdays at 2 PM and 8 PM, Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 PM and 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 1 PM and 4 PM, through July 29, at the Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. Molino Ave., Pasadena.  Tickets are available online at Pasadena Playhouse.org, by phone at (626) 356-7529, or at the Pasadena Playhouse Box Office.

            This production is for audience 5 years old and up, but I can tell you that I was captivated by everything about it from beginning to end.  Running time, 65 minutes