Review & Ticket Giveaway of Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Musical Mystery by Jamie Levine

As a former children’s book buyer, I’m quite familiar with Bunnicula, the humorous children’s book series by Deborah and James Howe featuring a would-be vampire bunny. However, my almost-six-year-old daughter and her friend had never been exposed to these acclaimed chapter books—but were thrilled to join me in attending the new musical adaptation of Bunnicula based on a book by Tony Award nominee Charles Busch (The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife), featuring music by Sam Davis and lyrics by Drama Desk nominee Mark Waldrop.

The hour-long show, subtitled “A Rabbit Tale of Musical Mystery,” tells the funny, fast-paced story of a family whose two pets—best friends Chester the cat and Harold the dog—find their lives turned upside-down when the family discovers a bunny during a movie showing of Dracula, and brings it home. When strange things start happening—like vegetables in the refrigerator are found drained of their juice—Chester and Harold become convinced that the bunny—cleverly named Bunnicula—is evil. Mayhem ensues when Chester sets out to kill the bunny in a variety of ways, including trying to put a steak through its heart (he uses a sirloin) and starving Bunnicula—which, instead, sends the bunny to the animal hospital.

As the drama builds, Chester and Harold become conflicted, when Harold begins to defend Bunnicula—and tries to save its life. But in the end, the best buds reunite to save the doomed bunny in a warm and fuzzy finale that celebrates friendship and courage.

Filled with catchy songs and a little bathroom humor (Harold to Chester: “Don’t just think outside the box…you pee there, too”), and featuring a likeable cast of cartoonish characters, including a bumbling professor dad, an uptight lawyer mom, a science geek son, a spoiled tween daughter (my daughter’s favorite), and of course clever Chester the cat and hilarious Harold the dog (whose scaredy-cat attitude is a bit reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz’s cowardly lion), this slightly-campy musical will appeal to children ages 4 and up—and will also entertain accompanying adults.

THREE EASY WAYS TO ORDER:

1. ONLINE: http://www.telecharge.com/Off-Broadway/Bunnicula/Overview

2. PHONE: Call Telecharge.com at (212) 239-6200 or 1-800-432-7250 (outside metro NY)

3. IN PERSON: Go to the Daryl Roth Theatre box office (101 East 15th Street).

Box Office Hours: Tues – Sun, 1PM – 6PM.

The DR2 Theatre box office (103 East 15th Street) opens one hour before every performance.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Fridays 7PM (March Only!)
Saturdays 1PM, 4PM & 7PM
Sundays 1PM & 4PM

THEATRE:
DR2 Theatre
103 East 15th Street
(btwn Union Square East & Irving Pl.)
New York, NY 10003