Photo courtesy of Adventure Theatre (Michael Horan)
If audience reaction says all you need to know about a production, then Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt, currently running at Adventure Theatre, is a hilariously entertaining and engaging hit. At a recent performance of the show, the room full of mostly field-tripping third graders were on the edges of their seats, waiting to see what would come next, howling with laughter at the antics on stage, and “helping” the characters on a wild treasure hunt mission.
Based on the popular children’s books, the play follows Judy Moody and her little brother Stink on a weekend family getaway to Ocracoke Island. School has just started again, and she was the only kid in her class who didn’t return with tales of vacation adventures — or a T-shirt declaring where she went. She also is trying to figure out what to include in her “Me” collage for school.
On their trip, Judy Moody and Stink are invited to join a treasure hunt in search of gold and the chance to take home a prize — a T-shirt boasting a break to Ocracoke. Judy is determined to win, and the brother-sister team embark on a fantastic, fun adventure around the island, solving mysterious puzzles and meeting interesting people as they go.
Photo courtesy of Adventure Theatre (Bruce Douglas)
Kids (and adults) can’t help but get caught up in the fun of the challenge with them. At this performance, young theatre-goers were eager to help Judy and Stink figure out the clues and let them know what the competing team was up to. The actors did a phenomenal job of acknowledging the audience, but also keeping us in suspense as they navigated their way around Ocracoke in search of the booty. It was great physical theatre as they jumped and crept around, danced, even had into a sword fight.
How it all pans out, you’ll just have to go see for yourself! But I can tell you that Judy Moody had loads of vacation adventures to share with her classmates and plenty of fodder for her “Me” collage. Your crew will have a great theatre adventure to share as well!
Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt is running at Adventure Theatre through June 3, 2018. Tickets are $19.50 and available online or at the Box Office. The show is recommended for ages 4+, and run time is about an hour.
