I love when theatres take time to make high quality productions for children, and I love even more when these shows are original material instead of the franchise material we so often see. Such is the opportunity happening right now at Salt Lake Acting Company with their new one act musical Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience. The ungainly title is evidently based on a book by Mo Willems who pens the script and lyrics and it ends up being a lot of fun.

The story follows mole rat Wilbur who is bucking convention by wearing clothes (clothes that have fallen from the sky.) He then sets up shop and sells the clothes trying to influence his fellow mole rats to dress smashingly. Since this is for kids the messaging is kept very simple with Wilbur having the bravery to be different and the other mole rats learning to accept him and try wearing clothes themselves.

If it was for adults they could dive into the introduction of commerce, wealth and identity through clothes but probably best to keep things basic in a 50 minute play for kids. Joseph Paul Branca plays Wilbur and he is very sweet with the rest of the cast energetically supporting his performance. The show is directed by Penelope Caywood and she manages to keep the energy high and the cuteness ever-present. The big standout production-wise is the costumes by Dennis Hassan, especially the pink, black and white outfits Wilbur is selling.

I do wish they would make the show much more interactive. There are a lot of moments where they could have involved the audience more. For example, they could give the kids a chance to yell out in support of Wilbur or clap along with the music. The only real audience interaction is at the end with the fashion show. Kids love an interactive experience so the more of that they can add the better.

Still, Naked Mole Rat at SLAC is sweet and worthy of your time. It is playing through December 30th and tickets can be purchased here.

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience has script and lyrics by Mo Willems with music by Deborah Wicks LaPuma. It is bsed on the children’s book

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