Review by Sayak, (2+2+2) x 2 years old (almost)
On November 18, my family and I went to see Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang at YPT. There’s only one phrase to describe this show . . . a whole lot of FUN!
The Breakdown
The 5 best things about this production of Jacob Two-Two:
- Staging and Story
- Musical Numbers
- Connection between Jacob and Mr. Loser
- Connection between Jacob and the Hooded Fang
- Messages Jacob Two-Two suggests to us
1.The staging (set designed by Dana Osborne) stood out from other shows I’ve seen. The stage composed mainly of boxes stacked up on each other creates this perfect, dirty and teetering background for the story, particularly the jail. In terms of the story, YPT really helped bring it to life in a fun and quirky way that kept me wondering “What’s going to happen next?”.
2. The musical numbers for Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang were so theatrical, I barely have words to describe them. They’re so dramatic, they make you laugh your head off! The singing from each of the actors was striking. When they were singing, it wasn’t the actors singing, it really was the characters singing. The song-and-dance during the trial scene particularly stands out in my mind. No one dances in a courtroom like that–that’s why it’s hilarious.
3. In the show, when Jacob has to go to court, his lawyer is Mr. Loser (Darrin Baker). Mr. Loser has very low self-esteem because he’s lost every single case he’s ever taken, so he doesn’t even want to try to win anymore. Jacob tries to find a connection between them and says, “Hey, I’m a loser too” to raise Mr Loser’s self-esteem. After a lot of convincing, Jacob manages to raise it somewhat, which bonds them. This makes you wonder if Jacob and Mr. Loser could be friends. (In the end, Jacob loses because the judge (Saccha Dennis) is biased towards adults and hates children.)
4. The Hooded Fang (Damien Atkins) is probably what people would say is the funniest part about this show. For me, the most humorous part was the connection that develops between Jacob and him. Jacob thinks that the Hooded Fang is actually a softie inside because Jacob sees right through what he thinks is an act. When Jacob is put in his jail cell, he gets chocolate under his door. Could it be from the Hooded Fang? Is the Hooded Fang really a softie pretending to be scary? Watch the show at YPT to find out the answers to these burning questions!
5. Jacob Two-Two is not just an entertaining, well-staged musical, it also has some strong messages. The musical suggests to us that everyone has something to share, a message to tell, and a voice to be heard. And it’s all of our jobs to make sure that everyone’s voice gets heard. And if you want to be heard, you need to step out of the background and stand up tall . . . even if you just want 2 pounds of firm red tomatoes.
For Next Time . . .
There’s only one thing that I would like to see next time: a stronger bond between the parents and Jacob. We saw a little bit in the beginning. We got to see the relationship between the siblings and Jacob, but not so much the bond between the parents and Jacob.
Cool to know. . .
In most YPT shows, children’s roles are played by adults. This time, two boys, David Black and Drew Davis, are sharing the role of Jacob.
Finally. . .
Get your tickets today. Take it from a reviewer who is a child. Whether you’re a child or a parent, teen or preteen, Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang is the holiday show for YOU.
News You Can Use
What: Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang, written by Mordecai Richler, new music and lyrics by Britta and Anika Johnson, co-directed by Allen MacInnis and Jen Shuber
Who: For audiences 5 to 105
Where: Young People’s Theatre, 165 Front Street East, Toronto, ON M5A 3Z4
When: Until January 3rd, 2016
Tickets and Info: http://www.youngpeoplestheatre.ca/families/show-tickets-info/ and 416.862.2222.
Why: It’s an excellent show for the holidays!
© Sayak S-G, Sesaya
