Berylline's number one goal in life is to be the first hummingbird to successfully complete the Midnight Flight and find the beautiful, nectar-rich Night Blooming Cereus. Her new acquaintance Bombus the Bumblebee knows how to find the elusive flower that only blooms once in a lifetime, but he's worried he might lose his new friend if she finds out that he can't fly. Together they have a fun-filled adventure and find out what true friendship is all about.
Bombus and Berylline or the Bumblebee and the Hummingbird is an original work full of beautiful visuals, light-hearted music, and imaginative storytelling. The show is based on character concepts by company members Rachel Petrie and Ryan Lear, paintings from local visual artist Amy Crickenberger Oeth, and stories from children of all ages.
"Originally, Ryan and I were going to write a children's book based on the idea," says Petrie, "but, when the company started talking about new show ideas for the upcoming season, I thought it would make a fantastic theatrical production."
With this new direction in mind, Crickenberger Oeth created a series of paintings to serve as the inspiration for the two main characters' adventures. These images were given to children who then described what they thought was happening in the scenes. Four Humors collected the stories, and director Dario Tangelson led actors Rachel Petrie and Jason Ballweber through a collaboration to create a production that combines the wildly imaginative narratives and weaves them together into a touching story of timeless friendship.
"Working on this show is an absolute delight," says Ballweber. "We are learning a wonderful lesson from working with children; to quit editing ourselves and that if something isn't fun, it is our duty to make it fun."
Featuring backdrops by Crickenberger Oeth and live musical accompaniment by Ryan Lear, Bombus and Berylline is a fun-filled adventure that the whole family can enjoy.
Discussion
Location
Gremlin Theater (View)
2400 University Avenue West
St. Paul, MN 55114
United States
