Dot & Ziggy | Theater review

The excitement in the lobby of the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater was palpable, but the crowd was slightly different than what you might find at a typical matinee. Wee ones screeched, drooled and babbled; three-year-old girls twirled their skirts; wobbly new walkers clapped and then fell with padded thumps onto the carpet. We were about to see the premiere of Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Dot & Ziggy, a play geared specifically toward babies and toddlers.

My four-year-old was thrilled when we finally entered the sunlit room and sat on brightly colored carpets. The play, created by Linda Hartzell, Mark Perry and Seattle Children’s Theatre, clocks in perfectly at just under 40 minutes. It's a simple tale of a friendship between a ladybug and a skunk, and how they learn to appreciate their differences and discover the joys of sharing.

The ladybug (played by Roni Geva) and the skunk (Don Darryl) danced around the entire theater, encouraging all of us to participate by clapping, singing, reaching up high, touching the ground–it was energizing and a great way to keep the wiggles at bay. Simple but well-crafted props and puppets in primary colors appealed to the senses, providing interactive (but not hyperactive) theater.  Scarves moving in and out of boxes were a big hit with the target crowd, as was the point in the show when the audience gets misted with water. Concepts such as “over” and “under” and shapes such as circles and lines were introduced playfully, with repetition and moments of sweet physical comedy. (My son’s favorite part was when Ziggy got stuck under a closed umbrella.) The production ended with a lovely soaring kite and a bubble machine, because everyone loves bubbles, right?

“I feel passionate that this next generation needs to see that art and theater are a necessity for learning,” says playwright Linda Hartzell. “Starting the habit earlier of attending theater helps children learn through their heads, hearts and hands.”  If the audience at Monday’s performance was any indication, Chicago's youngest theater-goers have been bitten by the bug, and are ready for more.

Dot & Ziggy runs through Jun 26 at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N Lincoln Ave (773-871-3000). Tickets are $16–$18. Go to chicagochildrenstheatre.org for info.