THIS PIGEON ADAPTATION IS NOT FOR THE BIRDS
My kids love Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, the popular children’s book by Mo Willems. It’s a simple, comic story about a pigeon that wants to be a bus driver, but whose dreams are thwarted by reality. An incredibly expressive and somewhat sympathetic character, the pigeon features in other Willems titles, such as The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! and The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! Willems himself has adapted these pigeon books into a funny and charming musical for small children. With a run-time of less than an hour at the Marriott Theater, and a typical start time of 10am, parents can still get their kids home in time for lunch and a midday nap. And that is a win!
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! remains faithful to Willems book, quoting it frequently, but expands upon the story by introducing new characters and songs. The show centers on a bus stop where the eponymous pigeon (played with a puppet by Matty Bettencourt) encounters a handful of characters, including the bus driver (Lydia Burke), a teenage skateboarder (Tommy Rivera Vega), an elderly woman (Allison Sill), and a businessman (Dan Gold). With the exception of the driver, all of these characters are waiting for the bus. And this leads to some wry commentary on the joys of public transportation! Naturally, the bus breaks down and everyone panics. This leads to a breakthrough moment for the pigeon, who learns how to fly with the encouragement of the bus driver. Of course, the bus gets fixed and a happy ending ensues.
Willems’ story and songs are simple enough for children to follow and enjoy, but with just enough complexity to keep the parents and grandparents entertained, too. Lorenzo Rush, Jr’s direction takes full advantage of the Marriott’s round space to provide an engaging, 360-degree experience. Matthew Weidenbener’s choreography and Otto Vogel’s musical direction keep the mood light and active. But perhaps no one draws more laughs than Leah Morrow, who plays a duckling, a puppy, the bus engine, and the driver’s mom. Bettencourt beautifully humanizes the pigeon by expressing a wide range of emotions. And Burke brings superb vocal artistry to her role.
This was my kids’ first musical; and what a tough crowd they were! I suspect that I enjoyed it more than they did, but they both stayed attentive until the end, giggling frequently. My three-year-old son got antsy about half-way through, but later said that the musical was “cool”. Not only is Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! cool; it’s witty and silly in ways that both children and grown-ups can appreciate.
