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Regional Reviews: Phoenix The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane: The Musical Also see Gil's reviews of Tarzan, Ragtime and Broadway Night
The story traces the journey of a rabbit doll made of china, who is given to a young girl named Abilene in the 1930s. Though Edward cannot speak aloud, his inner thoughts reveal a vain and self-absorbed nature, more concerned with his appearance than with the feelings of the young girl who cherishes him. When he is unexpectedly separated from Abilene, he is set on a path that brings him into the lives of a series of strangers who welcome him into their homes and hearts. Through these miraculous encounters, Edward gradually comes to understand loss, hope, and the true meaning of love, with Hartford's dialogue and lyrics and Sorrell's music bringing this emotional journey vividly to life. Hartford's book and lyrics and Sorrell's folk-infused music impressively bring a Depression-era feeling. Sorrell's music is bright, catchy, and varied throughout, with musical hooks you may find yourself humming afterward while Hartford's lyrics are clear and distinct. My only quibble with this adaptation is that, at 85 minutes, it may be a tad too long for young theatregoers; at the performance I attended, a few around me grew slightly restless toward the end of the show. Director Debra K. Stevens appeared in the earlier Childsplay production of the play version of the story, so she has a familiarity with the material that ensures the themes and characters are clearly defined. Stevens creates vivid moments throughout, including when Edward is thrown overboard and finds himself at the bottom of the ocean or in a scene that uses shadow puppetry to depict a story that Abilene's grandmother tells her. The ensemble cast–Cassie Chilton, Connor Dunning, John Knispel, Katie McFadzen, and Kyle Sorrell–are all excellent. McFadzen and Sorrell appeared in the previous version of the show playing similar roles to those in the musical adaptation, with McFadzen serving as the narrator of the piece, while also playing a few smaller characters, and Sorrell playing the voice of the title character. The quartet use a range of acting styles, from animated expressions to childlike sensibilities, to depict the numerous characters in the story. All of the cast members also play a range of instruments, with Sorrell providing guitar accompaniment. Michelle Chin's music direction makes sure that all of the instruments and voices mesh incredibly well together. While Jeff Thomson's set design is quite good, as it uses several movable multi-layer set pieces to depict the various locations, the almost-constant movement of the somewhat large pieces throughout the show by the cast and the stagehands, including at times when one of the cast is speaking or singing, is somewhat distracting. Adriana Diaz's earth-tone, period perfect costumes are excellent and the lighting design by William Kirkham creates a lovely landscape of varied colors and hues. The sound design by Matthew Drui delivers clear and crisp vocals and musical notes from the many onstage instruments used. Having various costume pieces used by the actors to change characters, and the appearance of many musical instruments always present on stage adds a lovely theatrical touch. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane: The Musical is a show that will most likely find you shedding a tear or two in its final moments and reflecting on the themes and characters. With thoughtful storytelling, an imaginative score and creative aspects, and a cast that brings sincerity and skill to every song and scene, this Childsplay world premiere production shows how theatre can enchant, illuminate, and deepen our understanding of connection, loss, and what it means to truly feel. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane: The Musical runs through May 17, 2026, at Childsplay, Herberger Theater Center, 222 E Monroe St., Phoenix AZ. Tickets are on sale at www.childsplayaz.org. Based on Kate DiCamillo's Novel |
