The Emperor’s New Clothes, a classic fable, comes alive at Virginia Rep Center through striking choreography, intricate stage design, and poignant musical story-telling. Themes of the story – the importance of honesty, and the consequences of vanity and selfishness – are told through lighthearted dialogue in a way that is easily comprehensible for children.
Directed by Jan Guarino, the show does an incredible job of presenting information through multiple facets. For example, the play opens with the cast lamenting their town’s strict rules. Not only do they sing about and discuss the rules, the signage on stage shares the rules. This is a wonderful opportunity for beginning readers to put their skills to work. My son was so thrilled to exclaim, “See! They can’t sing, dance, or wear colors!” If you’ve ever had to sit through a play, constantly answering, “Mama, what happened?” or “Why did they do that?” you will appreciate the various modes Virginia Rep uses to present the story with a clear and easy-to-understand approach.
Geared toward children ages four to ten, there are classic elements for this age group. Ever the dedicated assistant, Greysuede, played by Corey Powell, shows off a physical comedy skill set as he deals with injury after injury in his attempts to do impossible assignments. Secondly, when the Emperor is swindled by two charlatans, Cashmere (Hannah Chester) and Silk (Chandler James Pettus), and appears in his underwear, the giggling can be heard all over the theater.
My son (who is six) connected to Flannel, played by Sawyer Fitch. Through his innocence, Flannel displays forgiveness and honesty as he faces tough life circumstances, like helping support his mother financially. The song, “Here’s My Song” touched me as Flannel sang of his love and devotion to his dear mother, Mrs. Flannagan, played by Audrey Snyder.
As parents, we are constantly reiterating the importance of honesty and forgiveness, so I loved how those topics were brought to light through Flannel. Even after his most prized possession, his flute, is taken by the Emperor, he ultimately forgives him. Further, although the adults in town insist Flannel lie and compliment the Emperor’s clothing, he refuses and upholds the truth. In the end, Flannel’s honesty is rewarded as he receives a high-paying job from the Emperor; thus, a means to support his family financially.
Under Jason Marks’ musical direction, the cast reaches the audience through upbeat songs and moving lyrics. The message of honesty is restated through Flannel’s song, “When Something Doesn’t Feel Right,” encouraging us to trust our instincts and uphold the value of truth telling. The play culminates with the entire cast’s song, “Share the Colors,” which inspires everyone to avoid greed and selfishness, and allow everyone to shine.
The Emperor’s New Clothes runs through November 12, 2023 at the Jessie Bogese Theatre at Virginia Rep Center for Arts and Education. The show is one hour long with no intermission. For showtimes and tickets, visit va-rep.org.
