On a simple trip to the laundromat between a dad and his daughter, nothing can go wrong, right? Wrong. That’s the setup for the delightfully entertaining Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, on stage now at The Salvation Army Kroc Center (424 Westfield Street, Greenville, SC, 29601), performed by the South Carolina Children’s Theatre.
I had the privilege of taking my daughter to Knuffle Bunny for a dad-daughter date last Saturday. As we began the drive to the Kroc Center, the snow began to fall. By the time we reached our destination, the ground outside was blanketed in white! We enjoyed playing in the snow both before and after the show. Once we were satisfied with the snow (and we were cold!), we headed inside for the performance.
The musical does a wonderful job of telling a simple story from multiple perspectives. First, there is Mom’s perspective: she is unsure of Dad’s ability to handle their toddler daughter Trixie while also completing a load of laundry. Her worries only increase as Dad seems completely clueless about the powerful calming effect of Trixie’s beloved stuffed Knuffle Bunny.
Then there is Dad’s perspective: overly optimistic as he anticipates no problems with Trixie and believes wholeheartedly in his ability to solve any problem. He seems unaware that Knuffle Bunny even exists, and when a certain stuffed animal goes missing, he’s bewildered as he tries to figure out the problem.
And then there Trixie’s perspective. Have you ever wondered how a toddler might feel if a beloved stuffed animal went missing (perhaps you’ve experienced it)? Well, attendees are given a glimpse into Trixie’s world as she pours out her heart for her missing Knuffle Bunny, the most delightful performance of the show.
See Knuffle Bunny
How are these tensions resolved? You’ll have to attend the musical to find out! Knuffle Bunny performs February 15 and 22, with showtimes at 10:00 am and 1:30 pm.
Knuffle Bunny tickets are available online.
One of the nice touches of the performance is that the venue provides seating on the carpet immediately in front of the stage. Children will get an up close and personal view of the entire performance from the floor, and there is plenty of regular seating if you prefer a chair. The cast of five carries the entire show well, which lasts about forty-five minutes.
If you’re looking for a fun outing with your family, I recommend you attend Knuffle Bunny while you can. My daughter is nine and stayed engaged the whole time, and much younger children in the audience did as well.
Please note that the performance is at the Salvation Army Kroc Center while the SC Children’s Theatre completes their new facility, with performances expected there this summer.
By Richard Winston, Contributor