Step Inside the Exotic Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi

Audiences young and old will find a funny, heartwarming and delightful show with positive messages for kids in the Mile Square Theatre's production of The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi.

The show premiered to a packed house on April 02 and continues its run at the Monroe Center for the Arts with performances on April 9, 10, 16 and 17.

Blaire Brooks opens the show as Darzee, a tailor bird who likes things a certain way – hers. She thinks the garden is all hers, until she encounters a young mongoose named Rikki Tikki, vigorously played by Matthew J. Harris, who finds himself in the garden when he has no place else left to go.

This production of Rikki Tikki is playwright Y York's adaptation of a short story written by Jungle Book author Rudyard Kipling. In the Kipling original a crafty mongoose battles a pair of venomous cobras that threaten an English family that has settled into a remote bungalow in 19th century colonial India.

The York adaptation minimizes the family role and focuses more on the animal characters in the story, who are able to talk to each other. The cast features four talented professional actors who each play very interesting and nuanced roles.

At first Darzee doesn't want to share the garden with Rikki. Rikki is young and doesn't realize that he's crimping Darzee's style either. But the two have to figure out how to coexist in order to fend off the dastardly Nag the Cobra, who too wants the garden all to himself. Darzee and Rikki get some help from Chuchu, an excitable muskrat played by Jen Ring, who also leads the Mile Square Theatre's summer acting program for kids.

Krys Mateo, who plays Nag, also doubles as Teddy, a boy who lives on the property and feeds the animals. He and Harris turn out energetic performances with lots of broad physical motion, while Ring comes off as charming and Brooks has a commanding stage presences as the domineering Darzee.

Director Chris O'Connor said that the actors showed a great chemistry during rehearsals.

“As a director they made it very easy,” he said.

Brooks concurred. “We just got together and played,” she said. “It's been a blast.”

That chemistry translates to the actual performance. The actors keep the show lively and humorous, especially during a dance sequence towards the end of the play that will amuse parents and kids alike.

The show closes on a high note. Just as the actors share the stage their characters all learn to be friends, to cooperate and to compromise, all healthy lessons for kids. Even Nag the Cobra doesn't seem so bad by the end. The garden becomes a peaceful place, where all are welcome.

See the Mile Square Theatre's The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi at the Monroe Center for the Arts during 2pm matinees on Saturday April 09, Sunday April 10, Saturday April 16 and Sunday April 17. For tickets, email info@milesquaretheatre.org or call 201-683-7014.