By Sara Monson
Dealing with an annoying baby brother, proclaiming herself ?Queen of the World?, and showing off her new, purple, plastic purse are all in a days work for Lilly, a little mouse with a lot of spunk.
BYU?s Theatre for Young Audiences is performing ?Lilly?s Purple Plastic Purse,? a play based on books by the acclaimed children?s author, Kevin Henkes.
The story follows Lilly and her friends as they deal with problems and learn lessons about forgiveness, sharing, and friendship.
In the first scene Lilly enters with bandages from head to toe and declares to her friends, Chester and Wilson, ?when I look brave, I feel brave.?
?My concept of the play is to be a reminder to adults that being a kid is okay,? said director Shawnda Moss, a BYU graduate student studying theater for young audiences.
Whether it?s the fire drills, sharp pencils, or story time, Lilly loves everything about school. She also worships her cool teacher, Mr. Slinger, who wears artistic shirts and greets his students by saying, ?Howdy rodents.?
?Its fun to explore a child?s character because it helps me to relive that time,? Rachel Andes, who plays Lilly, said.
One of the most important lessons Lilly learns is how to express her feelings. Mr. Slinger tells his students that when they have feelings that are so big they want to burst out, they should put those feelings on paper.
?We get to share some really basic and important lessons in the funnest way possible,? said Summer Brown, a member of the cast and a theatre education major.
Everything is going great at school, until Mr. Slinger has to take away Lilly?s new purple, plastic purse and her movie star glasses because she is disrupting the class. Although Lilly is furious at first, she learns a great lesson about forgiveness.
?It?s those small and simple lessons that make good people,? Moss said.
Following their performances at BYU, the cast will travel to over 20 elementary schools to share the joy and excitement of Lilly and her string of childhood adventures.
Brown said the kids will enjoy the enthusiasm of everyone in the cast.
?Everyone is really committed to their roles and having fun,? Brown said.
The show will run in the Nelke Theatre at BYU. Tickets are $9 and $3 off with BYU or student ID.
?It?s a wonderful play about lessons of life that we learn as children, that stay with us the rest of our lives,? Moss said.
The play will run through Feb.12 in the Harris Fine Arts Center.
