More News

Click here to see the video

Children performing in a Rainbow Company production need not audition or memorize lines — all they need to do is bring a little imagination.

The Rainbow Company, an interactive children's theater group of Burke, Va., performed Saturday at the Aspen Hill Library as part of four-part performance series at Montgomery County libraries this spring.

Staging an interactive performance of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" in the library's basement, co-founders Christopher E. Robin and Elaine Shaw worked together as actor and storyteller, while selecting as many as 10 children — some as young as pre-school age — to join them in supporting roles.

Interactive theater takes an established story and allows performers of all skill levels to act it out spontaneously as the storytelling describes the action.

Robin performed as Peter Rabbit, while Shaw served as the narrator.

"We need to think on our feet," Robin said.

The Rainbow Company, formed in 1991, travels as far as West Virginia to stage workshops, appear at birthday parties and perform for other libraries.

"We've had the Rainbow Company appear in our libraries for the past couple of years," said Michele Sellars, public services administrator for Montgomery County Public Libraries. "We like having their programs here because they are participatory."

Performing in the county since the mid-1990s, Robin and Shaw say the children in Montgomery County are what keeps them coming back to the area.

"The kids are always enthusiastic and listen well," Robin said.

During the course of the 45-minute performance, emotions ran wild, ranging from the audience's hysterical laughter to crying from younger children, unaware of what was happening.

Laughs and applause came from parents and children after the performance.

"They thought it was funny," said Aspen Hill resident Yohanna Mora, speaking on behalf of her two children, Diego Rincon, 5, and Isabel Rincon, 3. "They loved the chase scene."

In preparation for any performance, Robin and Shaw encourage parents and children to review the original story together so they have a sense of what will be expected of them on stage. Regardless of whether they do or not, everything always comes together in the end.

"There are kids who are really outstanding and the reward is right there on stage," Robin said.