Watch CBS News

MNfusion: Actors' Physicality Makes CTC's 'The Jungle Book' Come Alive

When it comes to viewing professional theater, it seems a bit of a cop-out to state that the actors had great characterization.

It almost comes across as a way to compliment a show that otherwise had no redeeming qualities. (Which, to be clear, is not the case with this show.)

After all, part of being a professional is being able to capture a character in voice, movement and over-all physicality in a way that is believable to your audience. And part of earning a role in a show is being more believable as a particular character than any other actor that auditioned.

But, as with most things in life, there is a varied level of success even among the professionals.

So, despite it being part of their craft, the skill shown by the Children's Theatre Company's cast as they embodied a jungle full of animals cannot be overemphasized.

Eric Sharp As Mowgli in CTC's Jungle Book
(credit: Dan Norman)

For those unfamiliar, "The Jungle Book" tells the story of Mowgli, a young boy who gets lost in the Indian jungle as a toddler. He is adopted by a wolf pack and raised along with their cubs, until one day he is cast out of the pack and must learn to live in the jungle alone.

Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther help Mowgli navigate the jungle as he encounters numerous challenges and unfamiliar creatures, such as the bloodthirsty Shere Khan.

Playwright Greg Banks' script is based off of the book by Rudyard Kipling, but, for those familiar with the 1967 Disney cartoon, still depicts Baloo as a jolly spirit and Bagheera as the stern knowledgeable leader.

There are also mischievous monkeys, hypnotizing snakes, wise-cracking vultures and fire.

Nastacia Nicole As Kaa in CTC's Jungle Book
(credit: Dan Norman)

If it's not already clear, where the actors' physicality comes into play is in their characterization of the animals.

While the audience has to suspend their disbelief to a certain extent, if they are able to do so even the tiniest bit the actors carry you the rest of the way.

The entire character depended upon their psychical manifestation of it. Even the make-up and costumes were minimal, which one can assume was mostly due to the number of quick changes needed so all five cast members could become an entire jungle.

The distinct movements of each actor as they changed from animal to animal are deliberate and striking.

It's clear when Nastacia Nicole is playing the electric, hypnotizing snake Kaa as she slithers and slinks around the stage speaking with long-drawn out words. But quickly she changes to a bubbly, mischievous  fast-talking monkey or the commanding yet nurturing Mother Wolf.

Casey Hoekstra As Shere Khan In CTC's Jungle Book
(credit: Dan Norman)

Casey Hoekstra tries on many accents as he moves from being the joke-cracking vulture flying in the sky to Shere Khan silently hunting Mowgli.

H. Adam Harris' Baloo stands out from the rest of the animals as he lumbers and stumbles across the stage instead of nimbly climbing about. But when he becomes a monkey he easily hangs from ropes and swings across platforms.

H. Adam Harris As Baloo in CTC's Jungle Book
(credit: Dan Norman)

And while all of the actors spent a great time swinging and climbing and crawling, Hoekstra and Autumn Ness' (Bagheera) ability to spend almost the entire show on hands and knees is truly amazing. The two leap and climb on all fours as though they lived that way. And while they do have padding on their hands and knees, it must still be a rather trying experience.

Harris, Hoekstra, Nicole and Ness also all have impeccable facial expression that match their hisses, hoots, snarls and roars.

Eric Sharp too, while not embodying an animal, held his own as being the only human playing a human. Without the assistance of make-up, Sharp showed the growth of Mowgli from child to man.

Paired with on-stage musician Victor Zupanc, who created the audible jungle experience with drums and rainsticks, it truly felt as though audience members were wide-eyed tarsiers  simply watching from the branches.

"The Jungle Book" is open now through Dec. 6 on the Children Theatre Company's Cargill stage. Tickets cost $38 to $48. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the CTC online.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.