Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress At Children’s Theatre Company

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress is short but sweet and as always the best productions at Children’s Theater Company (CTC), broadcasts an important message. Focused on presenting the idea that gender should not dictate what a person plays with or what clothing they choose to wear it makes the case for acceptance of everyone being true to themselves. In a world that can be marginalized black and white, the show illustrates that between the extremes there’s an abundance of colors including tangerine. Adapted from the Popular children’s book by Christine Baldacchino and Isabelle Malenfant by Juliany Traveras and Directed by Heidi Stillman.

Morris is a young boy with a vivid imagination who is inspired by a Tangerine Dress that he discovers in the dress up box at his school. It feels right and for him, it’s the perfect clothing for playing astronaut in. The other children tease and exclude Morris, telling him dresses are for girls and Astronauts cannot wear dresses. Morris is supported in his choices by his teacher and mother who understand the way the world reacts but knows what truly matters is not what the world thinks, but how Morris feels inside. Wearing the dress makes Morris happy, it reminds him of his mother’s hair and fuels his imagination. That imagination is what finally begins to break down some of the other kids, who are able by the end of the play to open their minds and let go of societal gender constructs. The play ends with a fantasia of imagination come alive through the work of Scenic Designers William Boles and Sotirios Livaditis. Morris and his friends explore the universe untethered by reality to explore a rich galaxy fueled by their creativity. For a play that feels grounded in reality for most of its 50 minute run time, it’s exactly the right touch to send audiences of all ages out with a sense of wonder and a kernel of an idea that openness and acceptance can be a beautiful and wondrous thing.

CTC assembles a young cast that reflects the message of the play and anchors it with the fabulous Joy Dolo. Dolo plays dual roles as Morris’s mother and his teacher, creating distinct but caring portraits. As the teacher she’s especially effective at showing the struggle within of supporting while also helping Morris navigate the reactions and expectations of others. Morris is played by Mathias Brinda who identifies in the program with the pronouns She/They. It’s always a surprise to see someone so young who has the stage presence of an experienced performer as Brinda does. Brinda has to carry the play and their performance captures the wonder of a child whose brain is full of fantasies and curiosity. Of the four child characters in the play two boys and two girls, there is a leader of each gender who will not abide Morris’ gender nonconforming behavior and two that are the followers but eventually rebel against their friends intolerance. The bullies are played by Truman Bednar as Henry and Hildie Edwards as Becky who’s a trans actor and advocate. Both are strong in portraying the cruelty of kids on the playground, not an easy task, being mean to others even though it’s accepted that it isn’t real.

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress is running through November 19th at Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis. For more information and to purchase tickets go to. https://childrenstheatre.org/whats-on/morris-micklewhite/

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