17 July 2015
BEIRUT: The Mini Studio show made the first of three stops on its summer tour at Theatre Gemmayze in Beirut, bringing its charming cast of characters and familiar songs to entertain children of all ages.
Director of Mini Studio show Marie-Christine Naim, who goes by the nickname Kikky, said that in every play there are new stories and new characters. She said they always try to incorporate magic into the plays, and children are encouraged to stay engaged and participate in order to solve different puzzles.
The show Thursday began with the cast selecting children from the audience for the chance to win different prizes. This was followed by a series of musical performances involving the main characters of the show, including Mr. Grand Chapeau, Woonie the sailor, Ditti and Ditto, Piero, Doudou and others.
Throughout the show, children remained engaged, answering questions and following the events closely in order to discover the magic refrain. Naim said that in every Mini Studio play there are always things to be discovered by the audience, whether they are looking for a key, searching for something hidden, or collecting different pieces of information to solve a mystery.
The children were engrossed by the performances, as various characters in vibrant costumes performed from all corners of the theater.
Jocelyn Hakim, public relations and communications manager at Mini Studio, said, Such plays develop childrens visual, auditory and sensory perception, through the use of diverse colors and rhythms, and by maintaining interaction with the audience.
Hakim said that since Mini Studio began in 1985, one of the goals of their plays has been to accustom children to theater and instill an appreciation for the medium.
Hakim said that, from a psychological point of view, [The] plays are created for children of all ages. Very young children are occupied by the colors and rhythms, whereas older members of the audience are fascinated by the problem-solving and unraveling of mysteries.
According to Naim, the purpose of Mini Studio plays goes beyond stimulating childrens analytical thinking and encouraging a love of theater. Our plays always convey crucial messages including respecting others, respecting animals and teaching children about the importance of nature and ecology.
The Mini Studio show will run at Theatre Gemmayze from July 15 to July 22, followed by performances at the Maarouf Saad Social and Cultural Foundation in Sidon on July 18 and 19, and at the Safadi Foundation in Tripoli on July 24 and 25.
For more information about Mini Studio in Sidon, call 07-725-001 or 70-204-060; for the show in Tripoli, call 06-411-543. Tickets can be purchased at the Antoine bookstore and at the theater entrance.
Copyright The Daily Star 2015.
