Word: poohed
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Thus, it was quite a fair shake, and welcome slake to my bear thirst, to see the Harvard Yard Players' production of "Winnie-the-Pooh." Lehman Hall turned into a huge livingroom, and Pooh and friends entered when Milne began telling a story for Christopher Robin. The atmosphere was warm and informal, because there was no stage to separate the actors from the first ring of children seated on the floor. This close range prompted almost spontaneous audience participation. The actors introduced themselves in individual conversations with the children, shook hands, danced and even had two of the children help...
...PACE of the acting was very lively and energetic, even confusing and chaotic at times. Judging by the children's response, as they craned their necks to see above the performers' knees, the action held their attention, keeping the excitement level high. But Milne's Pooh seemed rather out of place among all this activity. Although this pace was for the children's benefit, Edward Bear is actually a more slow-moving, peaceful character, with plenty of time for ambling in the forest to offset his adventures and mishaps...
Director Josh Rubins' songs were a significant addition to Milne's prose. They were well sung and used effectively to split scenes, but moralized too explicitly. For instance, "seek and you shall find," when Eeyore lost his tail, "it's the thought that counts," when Pooh and Piglet gave Eeyore his birthday presents in less-than-perfect condition, and in general equating Pooh's love of honey outright with human vices. This contrasts sharply with Milne, for an important part of Pooh's charm is his subtlety; morals are implicit in Milne's stories. If you want a lesson, Pooh...
...songs were set to jazz, and being a Milne traditionalist, I didn't particularly like this updating of Pooh's world. The Hundred Acre Wood is an isolated timeless spot that shouldn't be influenced by the kind of modern pop music that Charlie Brown and his Peanuts setting fit in with. To preserve Pooh's nature, his songs should be just his usual off-key ramblings, subtle, pleasant; not orchestrated jazz...
...Rubins' song and dance version of Winnie-the-Pooh was enjoyable, but the Adams House black tie reading last Christmas came closer to Pooh perfection in its inclination toward the absurdly formal...