Theater review: Junie B. Jones & A Little Monkey Business

by Joan Arbery of Renegade Bus

Ah, childhood—that time of humiliation and wonder. It’s such a painful, open-ended beginning, full of both worry and excitement. In Junie B. Jones & A Little Monkey Business (now showing at the Rosewood Center for Family Arts and put on by Dallas Children’s Theater under Nancy Schaeffer’s direction), you can relive youthdom’s teasing, snobbery, swapping, gloating, and bullying all to the sound of a boppy sing-a-long.

Junie B. Jones is in kindergarten. Her expectant mother is starting to decorate for the new baby. Meanwhile, Junie B.’s teacher is planning the class’ first show and tell. While Junie B.’s “bestest friends,” Lucille and That Grace, both have things to show, Junie B. has nothing. Then she finds out that her baby brother is a monkey, mistaking her grandmother’s colloquialism for “cute” with a literal ape. Therein lies the debacle of Junie B.’s show and tell.

Lisa Schreiner as Lucille, a guzzied-up, prissy, and flouncy American princess, beautifully sings and acts the spoiled brat, wielding her hauteur with feigned innocence as to its power. Her Lucille is sort of reminiscent of Mary Poppins’ moment in the mirror, when her alter-ego one-ups her. Schreiner’s vibratos raise an otherwise silly play to something worth hearing.

Jessica Jain as Junie B. is sufficiently pouty and petulant. She certainly plays up the confused and smart-talking kid, driving a hard bargain and asking honest questions. Ashley S. Duplechain as That Grace, whose high-tops are the “it” item, also ably hops and bounces along as a child.

Junie B. Jones is an enjoyable enough kid’s play as far as promoting its didactic message — words can have double meanings, and there’s always enough love to go around. Yet Junie B. feels a little bit too much like a Sesame Street version of learning — colorful, happy-go-lucky, and slightly kitsch. Maybe at 4 or 5, that’s all kids want or need. But the play lacks beauty. Thankfully, Schreiner’s voice provides the production with a touch of it.