\s mYevtew ELECTRONIC ADDITION - University of British Columbia

BOOKS IN REVIEWchoix, mais en l'occurence, celle-ci manquaità la panoplie.MICHEL PARMENTIERMAGIC MAESTROVICTOR cowiE & VICTOR DAViEs, TheTrumpet. Turnstone, n.p.MagicIT IS HEARTENING to see the publicationof The Magic Trumpet (a 1969, threescenemusical comedy for children, ages4-11 ), not only because it is a good children'splay but also because it is a children'splay. So few publishers are willingto risk publishing plays for children. Thisplay, though first produced in 1969, wasnot published until 1984. Yet Children'sTheatre in Canada and elsewhere is dependenton some form of play publicationand distribution. Turnstone Press is,therefore, to be congratulated for itsunique and courageous decision to publishchildren's plays.The Magic Trumpet, first presentedby the Manitoba Theatre Centre, containsthose elements which, if artisticallycombined, should result in a successfulchildren's drama: humour, suspense,spontaneity, audience participation, fear,delight, music, song, emphasis on theimagination, and colourful characterswhose names bespeak their oustandingcharacteristics. In the Introduction, theplaywrights point out that they want themusical comedy to be entertaining, butthey also want children to understandthe theme as a "quest to achieve a justand happy world." The dramatists aredirecting their attention to adults as well.So often adults dampen children's spiritsby belittling the highly imaginativegames children invent. Victor Cowie,playwright, and Victor Davies, composer,are attempting not only to present astimulating play for children, but also tosuggest to adults that they try to retainthose childlike qualities of wonder anddelight so inextricably a part of childhoodbut often lost to the world ofadults. In so doing they will be betterable to understand the powers of theimagination upon which children drawfor their entertainment.The plot of The Magic Trumpet issimple and easy for children to follow.The play opens with Mayor Mumble'sannouncement that school is closing andthe summer holidays have begun. Mrs.Mean is incensed because of the noisethe children will make while playing.She threatens to force the Mayor to openschool again. At this point, Magic Maestro,a circus magician, appears and enticesthe children, all but Simon Small,into the forbidden forest where, withtheir consent, he changes them intocircus animals. Given a steady diet ofwater and hay, they soon long for regularfood again. Meanwhile Simon Smallfinds them and learns that to turn themback into children again he must find theTalhuiq Tree who has the Magic Trumpet.Eventually, after some amusing incidents,Simon finds and blows the Trumpetwith the help of the audience, andsets the children free. The play endshappily for everyone.Throughout The Magic Trumpet themusic and lyrics are delightfully appropriateto the story. The characters, plot,and music all blend into a harmoniouswhole, making The Magic Trumpet amusical comedy to be enjoyed by all. Theplay can be mounted with a minimum ofsets and costumes. A complete musicalscore is available from Lily Pad Productions,102 Lyall Avenue, Toronto.GERALDINE ANTHONY=00=185