This show will be interpreted for the hearing impaired on Saturday, Oct. 27th at 2 pm.
The 7 pm show on Saturday, Oct. 27th is an autism-friendly performance.
Going to The Rose Guide
It’s almost time for our next production, “The Borrowers.” 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.
Based On An Award-Winning Book
“The Borrowers” won the 1952 Carnegie Medal and in 2007 was selected by judges of the CILIP Carnegie Medal for Children’s Literature as one of the ten most important children’s novels of the past 70 years.
The Story You Will See
Adventurous Arrietty belongs to an unusual race of tiny folks known as the Borrowers. They live under foot and behind walls in the homes of unsuspecting “human beans,” borrowing the things they need to survive.
The life of a Borrower is a bit dull for a spirited girl like Arrietty and she yearns for new experiences to learn about the world. When Arrietty encounters a human boy on her first borrowing expedition, she starts a chain of events that has the Borrowers running for their lives.
Based on the first two novels in Norton’s classic children’s series, this is a larger-than-life adventure you won’t want to miss!
The Characters You Will Meet
The Borrowers
• Arrietty – An adventurous 14-year-old Borrower girl
• Pod – Arrietty’s father and, according to his wife, the most talented Borrower
• Homily – Arrietty’s mother, who takes care of things at home
• Hendreary – Arrietty’s uncle
• Spiller – A Borrower who helps Arrietty and her family in their time of need
The Humans
• The Boy – A ten year old who left his home in India to recover from an illness at the country home of his great-aunt where he befriends the Borrowers
• Mrs. Driver – The housekeeper and cook
• Crampfurl – The gardener
• Gypsy Boy – A wanderer who helps hide the Borrowers in a caravan
Things To Know Before You Go
• As tiny creatures in a world of huge humans, Arrietty and her family encounter some intense situations with some very large creatures that younger viewers may find slightly scary.
• Arrietty is a little rebellious and doesn’t always listen or follow the instructions of her parents. This creates some danger and trouble not only for Arrietty but also for her entire family.
• This story is set in England during the Victorian era. The actors will be using English accents to bring the characters and story to life. You may want to make sure your ears are ready for a new and interesting dialect!
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
• “The Borrowers” tells the story of Arrietty, a curious young girl yearning for adventure. Have you ever been on an adventure? Where did you go and what made it so adventurous? If you could go on an exciting trip, where would you go?
• The family of tiny people portrayed in “The Borrowers” live in a house with human beings. As tiny people, every thing the borrowers see and hear is humongous! How might you feel if you were a tiny person in a house of humans? What kinds of noises and other things might scare you?
• The Borrowers are resourceful people who borrow human items and use them in different ways, such as thimbles for chairs and matchboxes for beds. If you were a Borrower, what would you use a spoon for? What about a ruler? A scarf? What other items might you “borrow” from the humans?
After the Show
• What would it be like to live as a Borrower? Would you enjoy living beneath the floorboards or would you get restless like Arrietty? Would you like to have a gigantic version of an everyday item? What would it be and why?
• How do you think Arrietty feels when she sees and speaks to the human boy? How do Pod and Homily feel about it? Is it possible to be friends with someone who is different from you and your family?
• Is borrowing the same as stealing? In the play, Homily says, “You never ever borrow from another Borrower.” Why does she think borrowing from a Borrower is different from borrowing from a human?
• The Clock family is forced to leave their home with only a moment’s notice, so they can only bring a few precious items with them. They must quickly decide what they will take. If you had to move suddenly, what would you take with you? Why are those things special to you?
Awesome Aftershow Activities
After your family enjoys the show, you might want to try these fun activities at home to extend the experience!
• Be a Borrower – What would it be like to be little in a big world? Find interesting items at home to design a Borrower’s costume and make props a Borrower might use. Act out favorite scenes from the play with your friends. Use your imagination to make up some brand new Borrowers adventures as well!
• Design a Diorama – A diorama is a model, sometimes in a shoebox, that depicts a scene. Make a model of a Borrower’s house using small items you find around the house. How would a Borrower use these “Human Beans” items?
• Journal Your Own Journey - Arrietty likes to keep a journal to record her thoughts about her life and adventures. Make a journal by decorating a notebook and write about your own adventures. You can write about your real life or pretend that you are a Borrower on your own adventures! Where would you go? What would you encounter along the way?
