Editor’s Note: In extending its tradition, The Utah Review, with the assistance of Christal Jackson, an English teacher and ELL coordinator at City Academy, asked two students to review Salt Lake Acting Company’s production of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience, with script and lyrics by Mo Willems and music by Deborah Wicks La Puma.
Before turning it over to our two guest reviewers who are City Academy students, I wanted to add a few brief thoughts. As an adult who looks at the world more often with jaded skepticism than with cheerful hope, I reveled in Salt Lake Acting Company’s production of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience, directed and choreographed by Penelope Caywood. Based on a best-selling book that also has been honored as among the top choices for parents helping their children discover a love for reading, this little musical excels at delighting adults and children alike.
The six actors ensure this ranks easily among the most impressive examples of professional theatrical productions for younger audiences that I have seen in recent years. Leading the cast as Wilbur, Joseph Paul Branca sets the bar for the ensemble. Matthew Tripp, who takes on several characters, brings an astute blend of Larry David and Bernie Sanders to his role as Grand-pah. Other naked mole rat rockers are just as distinguished, including Sophie Jean White, who also takes on various roles as well as the ‘Starbucks’ trio: Katie Lobrot (Tall), Alexa Shaheen (Grande) and Scotty Fletcher (Venti).
The production run continues through Dec. 30, with plenty of matinee options as well. Even if you don’t have kids, it is undeniably one of the most entertaining one-hour shows one can see, especially during the holiday season. For tickets and more information, see the Salt Lake Acting Company website.
STUDENT REVIEWERS:
Scarlet Thomason is a junior at City Academy. She is passionate about writing and theatre, and is very grateful to have this experience. Mo Willems books are probably the reason she can read today.
I saw Salt Lake Acting Company’s production of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience. This is a musical adaptation of Mo Willem’s children’s book with the same title. This was a very nostalgic experience for me because I read many of his books as a child.
Even from my first impression of the theater I could tell I was going to enjoy this show. There were images of famous album covers with naked mole rats on the cover instead of humans, and, while naked mole rat-centric names strewn about the walls of the house-sounds crazy, I know, you just have to see it. Simply from the props, I knew the actors and production team had a lot of fun with this.
Since this musical is targeted toward kids, it might be tempting to disregard it as a silly show meant solely for entertainment, but it is so much more than that. There is a very important message that is clear and present if you are willing to see it, which is why I think it’s so good that this production was written with younger audiences in mind so they can understand it better.
When I asked the actors after the show: “What was the message you were trying to convey through your characters?”, each response was unique to the character and the actor playing the character, but they all seemed to tie back to one idea: There are ways to express yourself while also respecting the way others do it.
This is a simple concept, and one explored heavily throughout the show. If you are unfamiliar with the premise of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, it follows Wilbur, a mole rat who happens across a colorful outfit one day. He feels wonderful and attempts to open his own clothes store, but his colony doesn’t understand why he would want to change their tradition of unadulterated nakedness. His friends go through great lengths to get him in trouble with their esteemed leader, Grand-Pah. In the end, Grand-Pah realizes that there’s no harm to wearing clothes, and they have a unique closing number in the form of a fashion show.
I love the fact that this is a kids show. It’s a wonderful way to introduce younger audiences to self-expression. At one point, the actors asked the kids what they liked to wear and were so supportive of whatever the kid’s response was. At that age, people don’t know exactly who they are yet, but hopefully this rock experience reminds them that they have freedom. It shows them that change is a part of life and often, it leads to better things.
Overall, it was a resonating experience that approached hard topics beautifully. People of all ages came and enjoyed the production, and I could tell they enjoyed it. The humor appealed to each person in the audience, and it was very interactive. The actors had such great presence with their physical acting and line delivery, I could tell that the director had a clear vision.
Thank you to Salt Lake Acting Company for this experience!
Myles Vincent is a student at City Academy High School and he loves creating and watching stories, and for years he has been involved with theater. His theater exposure could be blamed on his grandmother. She is a huge helper in her local theater with her constant support of student shows, or really any production she can get a hold of.
The Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed is an immersive delight. The name Naked Mole Rat doesn’t strike as something you would want to take your children to, but it is a perfect production for your children. With its short run time it succeeds at telling a coherent story with great messaging and lessons for kids. From start to finish it will be perfect at keeping children entertained; with its great set designs and cheery performances, it manages to be captivating for younger audiences. Even if you may not be the target audience it still has elements that will keep you entertained, like the thought out parodies, witty humor, or even the well crafted music that is reminiscent of David Bowie.
Music is one of the best things going for the production, with the catchy and simple lyrics they are perfect to get the story from point A to B, and to be able and share the simple yet effective messaging, with it being easy enough for the children to take in. Another great thing the musical has going for it is the immersion that it brings for the children in the audience, the musical really shows how much they care for children, with every chance that they have they bring the kids into a part of play. Especially by the end, when it includes the children on stage for the fashion show, or how the audience gets to join in with a dance that is the same as the actors on stage.
It may appear simple, but the set and stage is perfect for the story and setting that is being told, and the bright colorful and amazingly effective outfits that every character is donned with succeeds at telling what the character is and grabbing and keeping the attention of the audience.
Overall the Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed is a great simple children’s musical, and will be a delightful and entertaining experience for the kids who are given the chance to watch it, and with plenty of other things that will keep the older people watching something to enjoy. That is why “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed” is an incredible and captivating children’s musical that does an amazing job with the multiple things that it sets out for itself.
such a nice idea to feature the students as reviewers