Walking the Tightrope is Great & Poignant for Everyone….
Afew weeks ago, I told you how excited I was to be seeing the west coast premiere of Walking the Tightrope at Los Angeles’ 24th Street Theatre & it was SO much more than I thought it would be & delivered on many levels for all ages.
Young Esme (played by a superb Paige Lindsey White….who may appear to be a grown-up, yet knows how to release her inner child & show emotions as if she truly were around 8 or so) has been going to visit Granddad Stan (a perfect Mark Bramhall) & Nanny since she was in her Mommy’s tummy….then, the next year, she cried…alot, the following, she walked & 
the year after that, she talked, ALOT! On her very first train trip for this annual summer vacation all on her own, she arrives & at first, thing do seem the same, but as she gets to her grandparents home & notices the chickens, kitchen, egg timer, many staples at the home seem the same…but her beloved Nanny is nowhere to be found.
Granddad dances around the issue, & as the short play progresses, we begin to see that maybe Esme can perhaps accept death better, or in her own mature way, than Granddad has been able to.
A mysterious clown (Tony Duran) graces the stage for most of the whole act, never saying a word, yet being perhaps the tide that binds what is missing without the presence of Nanny.
The youngster & Grandpa’s trips out to the seaside (& later….even…the circus, of course!) are too precious, with clearly some emphasis on the difference of being 8 & (around) 70/80!;) Keyboardist, Michael Redfield shines at providing great little ditties & mood-setting music for each scene, too.
Walking the Tightrope is clearly appropriate for all ages; I do not have children yet enjoyed it just as much as a “grown-up” play. The families around, especially the children, definitely seemed to enjoy the antics of precocious Esme, the grumpiness of Stan, the questions surrounding The Clown & I can also see this production being a wonderful way to introduce a child to the bittersweet events in life that do include death.
Walking the Tightrope plays at The 24th St Theatre every Saturday at 2p & 730 through March 30. I highly recommend reserving your tickets here as it is selling out!:)
(Special thanks to Cindy Marie Jenkins for inviting me to see the play)
Susan Cooper/findingourwaynow.com
February 26, 2013 at 6:21 amWhat a delightful description of the play. I felt like I was there with you. It is obvious that had a great time. :)))
Along Comes Mary
February 26, 2013 at 6:47 amThank you so much Susan!!!:) I love small cast plays with minimal props/stage space.
Michele
February 26, 2013 at 8:40 amThe 24th St theater in Brooklyn or Manhattan? This sounds like a play I would thoroughly enjoy and I have no children either–I love the little off-broadway plays-they are sometimes better then the on-broadway. Thank you for letting me know about this one!!
Along Comes Mary
February 26, 2013 at 10:35 pmLos Angeles, actually!:)
Erin
February 26, 2013 at 7:11 pmYes, this was such a cute play! It was very sweet and heartfelt. I enjoyed going to see this great play with you!!! Thanks for inviting me.<3
Natalie Z
February 26, 2013 at 8:27 pmI wish I made time to go to the theatre since just reading this makes me want to go. It sounds like you really enjoyed it!
Andrea Kruse
February 26, 2013 at 10:00 pmIt does sound like an interesting premise for a play. I wonder if it will be traveling or showing outside of the Los Angeles area?
Along Comes Mary
February 26, 2013 at 10:34 pmHopefully this premiere will inspire more theatres to produce it!:)
Alaina Bullock
February 27, 2013 at 12:05 amIt has been quite awhile since I have been to a good play, and this one looks great! Thanks for the review!
Along Comes Mary
February 27, 2013 at 3:25 amYou’re welcome!:)
Terin Garrett
February 27, 2013 at 2:54 pmI haven’t been to see a play in SO long, but this made me feel like I was there! 🙂
kim
February 28, 2013 at 3:31 pmI love plays, but haven’t been to one in years. This one sounds great. Wonder if it’s showing in Fort Worth, TX. Thanks for the review on it and getting me excited just to see another play in the theater. FW has nice ones.
JadeLouise Designs (@JadeLDesigns)
March 1, 2013 at 6:52 amI love plays! I haven’t been to one in a long time though, because I always have my kids in tow. But it sounds like this would be a great play to take them to, also.
mamatomanyblessings
March 2, 2013 at 1:12 amsounds very entertaining – I so have to start taking my kids to plays, especially one like this one! Thank you for sharing your great experience!