The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites

Source material never guarantees success, but the ideal pairing of the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia with the beloved children’s stories of Eric Carle equals an onstage triumph. As the very hungry caterpillar transforms into a Technicolor butterfly, little ones in the audience can’t help but shout out encouragement, thanks to the age-appropriate “no shushing” policy (the show is targeted for two- to seven-year-olds). The sweet-as-can-be doses of narrated fantasy are made more so by a whimsical score. Even kids unfamiliar with Carle’s canon remain rapt, thanks in large part to the dramatic lighting, those glowing sets and the handiwork of (just) two puppeteers.