This show will be interpreted for the hearing impaired on Saturday, April 6th at 2 pm.
Going to The Rose Guide
It’s almost time for our next production, “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse”. We’ve assembled some special information to help you and your family to get ready. Before you go to the show, you might want to take a few moments to review this guide so everyone will know what to expect from the performance.
The Story You Will See
Lilly, Queen of the World, loves everything: riding her bike, wearing band-aids to make her feel brave, and inventing her own secret backwards language. Lilly saves her new friends Chester and Wilson from some bullies, and together they make three peas in a pod, sharing interests and adventures.
On the first day of school, they meet Mr. Slinger, who gains their respect and offers them The Lightbulb Lab, his creative method for problem solving. But when Lilly, used to being the brightest and loudest mouse, has to share the spotlight with her new baby brother Julius, she doesn’t feel very excited to be a big sister. And when no one pays attention to her fabulous new purse, Lilly becomes angry and lashes out, hurting others’ feelings.
With the help of Mr. Slinger’s Lightbulb Lab, Lilly makes amends and even finds a place in her heart for her baby brother, Julius.
The Characters You Will Meet
• Lilly – A mouse with lots of energy and confidence, who commits herself entirely to her ever-changing whims.
• Chester – A reliable and loyal mouse, best friends with Wilson, and later friends with Lilly, too. He makes sandwiches in triangle shapes and loves school.
• Mr. Slinger – The popular new teacher and a role model for Lilly. He introduces his “rodents” to the Lightbulb Lab.
• Mother/Father – Lilly’s loving parents who must adjust their routine with the arrival of Lilly’s baby brother.
• Garland – Lilly’s baby brother. Lilly’s parents want Julius to grow up to be as extraordinary as her.
• Grammy – Lilly’s kind grandmother, who buys Lilly the purple plastic purse.
Things to Know Before You Go
• A major theme of the play is sibling rivalry and there is a tension formed from the frustration and jealousy Lilly feels toward her baby brother when she has to share her parents’ attention. Lilly’s words are hurtful; however, Lilly eventually learns to turn her loathing into love.
• Lilly has a nightmare about her favorite teacher, which younger viewers might find scary. This nightmare is the result of her own misbehavior and eventually Lilly learns that she must apologize in order to make things right and feel better.
• Chester and Wilson are bullied in one scene, which some children might find upsetting. But Lilly comes to their rescue and the bullies flee. It is an opportunity for Chester and Wilson to reveal to each other their strong loyalties, bravery, and even make a new friend under adversity.
Topics for Dinnertime Discussion
One of the best ways to enjoy a show is to talk about the story and the characters with others who attended. Below are some topics you may want to discuss.
Before the Show
• Lilly’s purse is her most precious possession and she takes it with her wherever she goes. Do you own a favorite thing that makes you feel safe, happy, or brave? Have you shown it to other people? When and where is it appropriate to share your excitement about a favorite object?
• Chester and Wilson are two peas in a pod, until Lilly shows up. How does adding a third person to a friendship change it? Have you ever let a new person join your group of friends? What special qualities did they bring?
• When Lilly breaks the rules, her mom sends her to the “Uncooperative Chair”. What do your parents do when you break the rules? Why do you think they do that?
After the Show
• Before Julius is born, Lilly is ecstatic and vows to be a good big sister. But after he’s born, she changes her mind. Why? Do you sometimes feel that your brother or sister is treated differntly than you? Lilly quickly lets her jealousy get the better of her and she loses sight of how much her family loves her. How does your family show that they love you?
• Lilly saves Chester and Wilson from some bullies. If Lilly hadn’t shown up, what might have happened? Have you ever been bullied? What would you do differently than Chester and Wilson to get out of the situation?
• Lilly gets very angry when Mr. Slinger takes her purse away so she draws a mean picture of him. How do you think Mr. Slinger felt when he found the picture in his bag? If you could give Lilly advice, what would you have told her to do instead?
• Lilly learns that she can’t just punish herself and sit in the uncooperative chair, but that instead she needs to apologize to Mr. Slinger. Can you remember a time that you had to apologize? How did you do it? Was it a difficult or easy thing to do? How did other people react? How did you feel afterwards?
Awesome Aftershow Activities
After your family enjoys the show, you might want to try these fun activities at home to extend the experience!
• Customize Your Clothes – Lilly never leaves the house without a nifty disguise. She says, “Whatever you wear can make you look how you feel or feel how you look.” See if you can change your mood by changing your clothes. Try to find outfits that make you feel happy, sad, proud, and brave. What other moods can you costume?
• Lighten Your Load at the Lightbulb Lab – Mr. Slinger’s class is lucky to have their Lightbulb Lab, a place for big feelings to be put on paper. Have you ever had a feeling that wanted to “burst out”? Try making your own Lightbulb Lab at home. With adult permission, select a space and decide how to decorate your own Lightbulb Lab so it’s uniquely yours. Mr. Slinger says you can draw, paint, cut, color, or paste. What other ways can you express your feelings at the Lightbulb Lab? Could you play an instrument, dance, or sculpt?
• Learn Lilly’s Language – Lilly speaks a backwards language, where each word is inverted, for example, “I ma Ylil.” Test out a few sentences in a backwards mode. Then, come up with your own secret language that you can share with a friend. Try writing a note in your language and see if your friend can decode it.
While at The Rose
• Stay for the Post-Show Q&A – Our actors end each performance with a 5-10 minute Q&A session conducted from the stage. The Q&A offers a wonderful opportunity for children to ask questions and learn more about the scenery, costumes, special effects, and more!
• Meet the Cast & Get an Autograph – Select actors from the show will be available after the show to sign autographs. Meet them on the mezzanine outside the entrance to the balcony level seats.
• Grab a Class Brochure – If you like what you saw on the stage and think you would like to be a part of it, try taking a class at The Rose Theater. The Rose offers a wide variety of classes for every interest and experience level.
