The Jungle Book

This semester, SDSU NewsCenter will focus on the arts with stories of the creative endeavors of our students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Wedged between the San Diego Zoo and the 163 freeway, in a hidden part of Balboa Park, lies the setting for San Diego State University’s adaptation of “Jungle Book.”

Written more than 100 years ago, the original story by Rudyard Kipling told the tale of a boy named Mowgli who was raised by a pack of wolves. The Disney adaptation added beloved songs, Mowgli’s furry friends Baloo and Bagheera, and his nemesis Shere Kahn. Now SDSU’s theatre department takes a turn at transforming this classic story into a modern adventure.

Mowgli and his adopted family leap around the set, which could double as a playground, in Margret Larlham’s adaptation for the SDSU stage. Mowgli must learn the laws of the jungle while solving the problems of depleting resources in his urban forest. A youthful frame of mind and serious themes intertwine to make “Jungle Book” a unique experience for all ages.

“Everyone can experience and enjoy theater for different reasons if you create it in a thick, complex way,” said Larlham, director of the production and theater professor at SDSU. “It is a children’s story, but there is also an under story that makes it important for all audiences to see.”

Education through theater

Embedding sophisticated themes into a children’s play provides young audiences with exposure to important issues that will be prevalent in their adult lives. "Jungle Book" presents underlying topics of resource conservation and human and animal relationships.

It's all part of the Common Experience, which aims to promote academic involvement at SDSU outside of the classroom. The theme this year is "Experience Water."

Several groups of children from schools and theater programs in the San Diego area will attend the play. The Professional Studies and Fine Arts Civil Core is participating in the experience by accompanying the children to the play and facilitating discussion of the topics presented.

“It’s important to teach kids at a young age how important it is to be environmentally conscious,” said Melissa Buendia, vice president of finance and fundraising for Civil Core. 'Jungle Book' will help accomplish that while having fun at the same time.”

Distinctive direction

The cast of “Jungle Book” might have expected their production to be out of the ordinary. However, they didn’t expect their first week of rehearsals to include professional dog trainers and their canine companions. The cast was treated to a demonstration of dog tricks and commands that showcased the potential of human-to-animal interaction.  

“In 'Jungle Book', the roles are reversed. The animals, Baloo and Bagheera teach Mowgli the laws of the jungle through the eyes of an animal,” said Kelli Plaisted, who plays the hyena, Tabaqui.

Larlham directs with the idea that the best theater performances are products of constant growth and adaptation. “Jungle Book” presented a unique opportunity for Larlham to use innovative ways of inspiring her cast and ultimately the audience. 

“In theater you use all means to bring vitality and freshness to your work,” she said. “Every time you do a play you reconstruct the world freshly and newly so that it is powerful and meaningful for the current generation.”

Event details

The Jungle Book will run from April 25 to May 4 at SDSU’s Don Powell Theater. Visit SDSU’s School of Theater, Television and Film website for times, more information and to purchase tickets.