“Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” a silly sweet new musical

EAST HADDAM — Enter a fantastic world of Frogtown Hollow, where dreams come to life, and gifts from the heart are the most important things in the lovely tale of Jim Henson’s “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas.”
Adapted from the HBO television show with all Jim Henson puppets, which was based on an illustrated book by Russell and Lillian Hoban, this musical uses a clever combination of fabulous animal puppets and real people dressed as the animal menagerie, with music.
Emmet Otter, played with wide-eyed sweetness by Daniel Reichard, wants to give his mother a present, while the mom, Mrs. Alice Otter, played with nurturing kindness by Cass Morgan, wishes to give her son a gift, but neither has enough money.
They decide to enter the talent contest and win the $50 prize. This story begins as a story read to a little girl named Jane by her father. Jane is played by a petite and sweet Kate Wetherhead. In an Alice-in-Wonderland-like turn, she falls asleep and dreams she is in their animal world.
There are the bad Nightmare Band characters, including a funny Stan Weasel, played by Stephen Bienskie, who looks like a psychedelic version of the AC/DC guitarist Angus Young. Beware the catfish puppet, played by Tyler Bunch, that squirts the first few rows with water during the show.
The songs, with lyrics and music by Paul Williams, are either bluegrass, ballads, perky happy tunes, or the wild rock and roll song of the Nightmare Band. Some are from the televion show production, while others are new, and are all fine.
The most memorable is the song that Ma Otter and Emmet sing — “When the River Meets the Sea,” which is reprised again at the end, so they must know it is the money song of the show too.
The humor is puny and silly, such as when the fine Mrs. Mink played by Madeleine Doherty, starts to do a strip tease during her talent contest number, and the Mayor, played by the excellent Kevin Covert, ends it abruptly and then thanks her for her “revealing” number. Covert is so good, as is his wife, played by Lisa Howard, that it would have been great if they had bigger roles in the show.
That isn’t a criticism, but a complement to the volume of overwhelming talent of the whole cast. The puppets are terrific too, including the hyper flying squirrels that twittered and tumbled about, played by Tyler Bunch, Anney McKilligan, James Silson, and David Stephens.
The make up and wigs, which are uncredited, but are truly remarkable, particularly for Mayor and Mrs. Fox. The costumes, which are a riot of bright colors and imaginative textures, by Gregg Barnes, are lots of fun, with tons of padding for just about everybody. They must be incredibly hot to wear under the stage lights.
The set of the fairytale-like town and cottages is excellent, by Anna Louizos, and the forest trees are detailed with quirky pine needles on oak tree-like trunks.
The dad, played by Alan Campbell, has a fine voice, but he looks about a decade too young to play the teenage Jane’s dad.
It is difficult to tell who is having more fun, the audience or the actors, but that doesn’t really matter. What does is this sweet and delightful Christmas treat of a musical for all ages.

EMMET OTTER'S JUG BAND CHRISTMAS

Three Stars
Location: Goodspeed Opera House, Route 82, East Haddam
Production: Music and lyrics by Paul Williams. Book by Timothy A. McDonald and Christopher Gattelli, who also directed and choreographed the show. Musical direction by Larry Pressgrove. Scene design by Anna Louizos. Costume design by Gregg Barnes. Lighting design by Brian MacDevitt.
Running time: 2 hours, with one 15-minute intermission
Show Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and select Fridays, and New Years Day at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m. with Saturday matinee at 3 p.m.; and Sunday matinee at 2 p.m., with Sunday evening performance at 6:30 p.m. through Jan. 4. There are no performances Dec. 25,.
Tickets: $39 — $49. Call the box office at 860-873-8668 or visit their website at www.goodspeed.org
ACTOR…CHARACTER
Kate Wetherhead … Jane
Daniel Reichard … Emmet Otter
Cass Morgan … Mrs. Alice Otter
Robb Sapp … Wendell Porcupine
Lisa Howard … Mrs. Gretchen Fox
Kevin Covert … Mayor Harrison Fox
Madeleine Doherty … Mrs. Mink
Madam Squirrel … Sheri Sanders
Tyler Bunch … Doc Bullfrog and others