KUALA LUMPUR: Monsters in the closet, spooks on the roof or creepy noises outside bedroom windows.
Many could probably attest to having a childhood phobia of sorts.
While it may have been just figments of imagination, the terror felt is most certainly quite real.
To empower young ones to overcome their fears, Tall Stories, a British children’s theatre company has produced Emily Brown And The Thing.
Presented in Malaysia by Gardner And Wife Theatre, the play explores common phobias of children in an entertaining way and is currently being staged at PJ Live Arts.
It is a stage adaptation of the illustrated children’s book of the same name by Cressida Cowell (writer of How To Train Your Dragon) and Neal Layton.
THEMES OF BRAVERY AND BELONGING
In the play, pre-teen Emily Brown and her talking, grey toy rabbit Stanley, both hear a furry, white man-sized creature called the Thing crying in their garden.
Main actor Sophie Alice, who plays five-year-old Emily, says: “The Thing can't get to sleep because of several ‘problems’ he faces. Emily and Stanley feel sorry for him, and decide to lend a helping hand.”
The duo then set off on several adventures in the Dark And Scary Wood and the Whirling Wastes to find three items which their newfound friend needs badly - Cuddly, his teddy bear, a bottle of milk, which he always takes before bedtime, and a special green medicine, which he needs to cure a nasty cold.
Sam Buitekant, who plays Stanley, says: “Emily and Stanley find these items one after another, and every time one is found, the Thing awakens them with repeated crying.
“While they initially find the Thing annoying, they soon realise he is a victim of his imaginary fears, which they too once had. Gradually they convince him to face his fears head-on and to conquer them.”
Andrew Mudie, who plays the Thing, says: “Grown-ups and children the world over will recognise all the excuses a child can make to keep the bedroom light on and to have a parent in the room.
“This story has a gentle message that there is no need to be scared of bedtime, and touches on the themes of belonging, fear, bravery and adventure.”
Tall Stories has staged the children’s plays The Gruffalo and The Snail And The Whale in PJLA over the last two years.
CHARMING AND HILARIOUS
Groove recently previewed the play at PJLA, and we found it a hilarious one with occasional references to jokes derived from urban legends.
Most of the laughs were provided by the Thing, who clumsily mistakes Stanley as a puppy, to his annoyance.
As for Emily and Stanley, they came across as bumbling but determined “little detectives” flashing their torch lights and wearing brightly-coloured raincoats, while on their mission to help their friend.
While speaking in simple English, their conversations were peppered with crazy assumptions and silly questions from the word go. All this added colour, wit and old-fashioned wisdom to an otherwise simple, hour-long story.
“We’ve been touring London and Sydney last month,” says Mudie.
“Each of us has more than two years’ experience in theatre, and improvisation is our key to staging a good play,” says Buitekant.
Alice says the play was first staged in 2014, and since then there have been minor changes to the dialogue to make it more interesting.
“We admit to viewers that we too used to have childhood fears.
“Back then I hated geese, since one attacked me, while Sam stayed away from moths, and Andrew imagined vampires in his sleep!”
She adds that many youngsters have faced their fears and gradually overcame them after watching the play.
STRONG AND INDEPENDENT WITH HEART
“Emily’s story does not advocate fearlessness amongst children, it actually says it is okay to fear some things, so long as we don’t get carried away by such fears,” says Mudie.
When it comes to creating plays for children, Alice explains that the main rule is not to be patronising towards them.
“Kids are pretty clever, so we have to be realistic when we communicate to them. We must realise they pick up information fast, and like plays that are delivered from the heart,” says Alice.
Buitekant says: “Emily Brown is a strong and independent-minded little girl, that’s what we like about her. Her friendship with Stanley is also a reminder that we must love animals, because they make great friends too.”
He likens Emily’s adventures to the books of famous author Roald Dahl, such as Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
“In Dahl’s children’s stories, his young heroes are similarly brave and independent, and determined to master new knowledge in their unexpected adventures,” he says.
Emily Brown And The Thing is currently being staged at PJLA in Jaya One, Jalan Universiti, PJ until March 12.
Show times are 10am (Monday to Friday), as well as 2pm and 5pm (Sunday). Tickets go for RM53 to RM95.40.
Call 017-228 9849 or visit www.gardnerandwifetheatre.com.