'Trumpet of the Swan' hits a sweet note

There are very few Yale theater productions that ask the audience to help the cast along by clapping, snapping, and waving hands in the air. The Yale Children's Theater, in its adaptation of E.B. White's Trumpet of the Swan , does all that and more. With its boundless energy and numerous interactions with kids in the front row, the cast successfully draws audience members of all ages into the action.

PATRICK MCGARVEY/YH Philip Gorman, TC '01, and Guy Padgett, ES '99, make some beautiful music together.

Trumpet of the Swan, ad-apted and directed by Gabriella Serruya, DC '98, and Lara Narcisi, ES '98, is full of color and enthusiasm. The play tells the story of Louis (Guy Padgett, ES '99), a trumpeter swan born without a voice. Louis's silence prevents him from courting Serena (Mary Sheridan, ES '99), the karate-kicking, "Shenandoah"-singing swan of his choice. So, Louis's father, Cob (Thomas Hooven, TC '01) steals a trumpet for his son, giving the young swan the power to communicate. Louis becomes determined to find and win Serena as well as pay for the stolen trumpet. In the end, he does so with the help of his friend Samantha, a fifth grader played by Yve Ludwig, TD '00.

Louis's determination to speak is bound to appeal to children and adults alike. His first attempts at speech and his first feelings of frustration are sweet and endearing. The characters often speak directly to the audience; sometimes they expect you to speak back. Audience members are asked by Padgett early in the play to come up with alternative forms of communication for his character. Padgett goes on to improvise and act out explanations for and against the given answers. Given this type of audience interaction, it is difficult not to be attentive to and involved in the show.

The energy and determination of the cast is instrumental in drawing the audience in. As Samantha, Ludwig is an eager and effective narrator. Most of the cast members play a number of roles and are able to slip in and out of them with ease. Portraying Cob as a loud, verbose, overdramatic swan, Hooven provides an effective contrast to shy, silent Louis. Audience members of all ages can appreciate not only his concern for his son but his monologue on "undying bravery, love, and justice" as well. His character can be summed up in his line, "I am not a chicken, I am a swan."

Other standout performances include Philip Gorman, TC '01, as Lucky Lucas, Louis's would-be agent. Dressed in a bright green jacket and striped shirt, screaming the word "Money!" at any given opportunity, Gorman provides a lot of laughs. Later, Gorman joins Sheridan and KenJin Tan, ES '01, to play three first-graders with hysterical accuracy. Their squeals and smiles are not only funny but infectious. Tan also plays Applegate, the annoying kid at summer camp who refuses to have any fun. His sullen whining is a strong representation of a character we all remember from childhood.

It is in this nostalgic elicitation of memory that Trumpet of the Swan works best. Its production is geared towards children, but its message and humor appeal to everyone. Although we may roll our eyes, we will crack a smile at the numerous puns on the word "swan." No matter how hard we try, we're going to laugh when Louis's parents break into a rendition of "Close to You." It's hard to imagine the age at which one would finally outgrow an appreciation of this Yale Children's Theater production.

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