Share. Be kind to each other. Clean up after oneself. Live a balanced life of work, play and learning.
The world would thrive better if adults would adhere to the same basic rules as children, wouldn’t it?
Actors Community Theater of Seymour is presenting “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” a compilation of stories and parables related to those basic rules.
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The show is at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and again June 28 and 29 at the theater, 357 Tanger Blvd., Suite 208, at Shops at Seymour.
“One thing that I have found an underlying theme for this is grace,” actor Horace Tucker said. “It comes up in a lot of the dialogue, and it comes up a lot in the scenes.”
The show is put together from Robert Fulghum’s material from “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” and some other books.
“In my world at least, it’s a visible exposition of grace because everything comes out OK,” Tucker said. “That’s what grace does.”
The show utilizes the cast’s storytelling skills as they share how the social skills people learn as children are valuable in adult life.
“It’s very relatable,” actress Elyse McGill said. “Everybody, I think, can find one scene that they go, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve been there.’”
The cast members agree there is something for everyone in the show.
“You come in thinking it’s a lighthearted children’s show, and it turns out having some pretty deep themes to it,” actor Greg Simons said.
“It touches on all of the emotions,” McGill added.
Stephen Jones, another actor in the show, said he likes how it doesn’t follow one theme.
“It kind of gives you different variations,” he said. “When I first heard the play, I thought just like Greg said, it will be a lighthearted children’s play. I didn’t realize that, ‘Wow! This is not like any plays that I’ve done that have been Act 1, Act 2, one character only.’ You’re playing many different hats.”
Olivia Murphy said she has laughed and cried a lot during rehearsals.
“If it’s related to you, it might make you get more choked up or even laugh a little. You can tell sometimes what touches the actors themselves. I think that alone would be relatable,” she said.
“It’s lighthearted enough that there’s just enough comedy to make you laugh, but it will tug at your heartstrings,” Jones said.
Actor Richie Stephan said he likes the show because “it’s human.”
Lisa Burrell said that’s evident in the role she landed where she talks about someone with Alzheimer’s disease.
“I lost my dad to Alzheimer’s, and the part that I read is called ‘Christmas Valentine’s Day,’ and it deals with that a little bit, and I actually teared up whenever I read that,” she said. “I teared up in rehearsals a couple of times, too. It’s stuff that people need to hear again.”
Director Betty Baute said the show is “pure storytelling.”
McGill said that goes back to what actors like about acting.
“We can make the audience feel different things based on what piece of art we’re doing,” she said. “If it’s funny, we want to make you laugh. If it’s sad, we want to make you cry.”
Baute said as people leave the show, they will receive a list of the basic rules of life just so they keep them in mind.
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What: Actors Community Theater of Seymour’s presentation of Robert Fulghum’s "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten"
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and again June 28 and 29; doors open at 7 p.m.
Where: Actors Community Theater of Seymour, 357 Tanger Blvd., Suite 208, at Shops at Seymour
Cost: Tickets are $12 and may be purchased at the door or online at seymouracts.ticketleap.com
Cast: Amanda Bott, Lisa Burrell, Elyse McGill, Olivia Murphy, Noah Jones, Stephen Jones, Greg Simons, Richie Stephan and Horace Tucker
Director: Betty Baute
Director’s assistant: Lom Win
Light and sound technicians: Ashley Browning and Tim Gordon
Information: Call or text 812-498-2127 or email [email protected]
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