Review: Dallas Children's Theater's THE PIGEON GETS A BIG TIME HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA! inspires exciting new holiday traditions

  

The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza

Book by Mo Willems
Produced by Dallas Children's Theater

Audience Rating: G
Running Time: 1 hour, no intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices:  Available
Sensory-Friendly Showing: Nov 15
ASL Showing: November 30
Production Sound/Lighting Level: Comfortable
Audio and Visuals to Prepare For: None of Note

Reviewed by Kyle Lester

As an artist and father, I’ve often wondered what it would be like to write a children’s book. Hiding a poignant life lesson among a tableau of silly songs, rhyming phrases, and every color on the spectrum represents the kind of creative challenge I would absolutely flock to (no pun intended.) It would be the kind of story that doesn’t wade too far past the shallow end of our collective moral compass and makes sure to pack enough action to keep the attention of all those single-digit humans who couldn’t sit through a 30-second commercial. And I can guarantee you that my protagonist would be something unusual yet interesting, like an axolotl named Anthony, anything but your dime-a-dozen, relentlessly annoying pigeon. I mean who would choose such a boring thing to bring a kid’s book to life?

As it turns out, Mo Willems would. In fact, he would do it 15 wonderful times in a row, proving that my literary instincts need more refining. And who would be audacious enough to bring this modern classic to life on the stage? Why, Dallas Children’s Theater, of course. And my, do they nail it. DTC’s latest holiday offering, The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! is a masterwork in producing a fun and engaging stage experience for young families. In the space of about 1 hour, the immensely talented cast manages to captivate all audience members (myself included – I’m a sucker for a well produced kids show) through their endless pursuit to put on the BIGGEST, FUNNEST HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA EVER. Of course, the ambition of Pigeon and his 8 animal friends far outweighs practicality – I mean, ordering 300 pizzas seems like overkill for a party of 8 – but it’s a pleasure to watch them try, and to learn that *SURPRISE!* quality time with loved ones is all you really need for a great celebration.

The cast is led by veteran voice actor Kyle Igneczi, who brings Pigeon to life through expert puppetry, physicality, and vocal expression. It’s always impressive to see a well-rounded performer display their bag of talents in front of an audience, but adding puppetry to that bag elevates the experience to another level entirely. His performance looks natural and effortless, and he never misses an opportunity to engage with the enthusiastic audience. Igneczi gives Pigeon a quirky expressiveness that delightfully brings him to life during every minute of stage time. That isn’t to suggest that his castmates are simply along for the ride, mind you. With several musical numbers and accompanying choreography, Pigeon is far from a one-person (er…puppet?) show. In fact, the entire cast’s performance blends seamlessly with the music, as they’re careful to highlight even the smallest ding of a triangle with a festive lift of their arm or a dance step. 

It’s this attention to detail that takes Pigeon from good to darn near perfect. DCT’s production staff transforms the stage into a living cartoon taken straight from Willem’s pages. For this quadragenarian, the theater felt reminiscent of the 1969 holiday classic, Frosty the Snowman. With a set that colorful and inviting, it was all I could do to not wander through the tapestry myself. In fact, keeping my rambunctious 7-year-old in his seat will be my only concern when I inevitably bring him with me for a second viewing. 

Dallas Children’s Theater has been a mainstay in DFW theater since its inaugural season in 1984, and The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! proves why. Every bit of this production does exactly what it sets out to do – to entertain the toughest audience any theater troupe can face. In a world where the click of a computer mouse can deliver instant gratification, it’s quite a feat to bring children into a fantasy world for a full hour. Not only does DCT live up to their promise, they leave their young audience wanting more. For parents with young children, that’s a holiday gift that can’t be outdone. 

I hope to see you at the next show, laughing and clapping along with a sea of smiling young faces. Until then, I’ll just be working on my own children’s book: Anthony the Axolotl Learns How to Bypass the Parental Control on His YouTube Account. OK, maybe that one needs a little more work. The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! runs through December 21. Tickets can be found at dct.org. 

Cheers, and I’ll see you at the next curtain.

Kyle Lester