Seeds Become Key to Sustainability in Re-Imagined Jack and the Magic Bean

Presentation House Theatre and Marionetas de la Esquina present Socially Conscious Adaptation of Classic Tale

Vancouver, BC – Presentation House Theatre (PHT) and Mexico’s Marionetas de la Esquina present the highly anticipated return of their enchanting environmental tale for young audiences, Jack and the Magic Bean, at Presentation House Theatre from April 11-28, 2019. In this whimsical and enlightening adaptation of the classic fairy tale, when Jacky tries to sell her beloved toys to buy food for her family and then trades them for a magic bean, she discovers something much more valuable than money – how to sustainably grow your own food and care for the land.

“This is a delightful and interactive presentation with an incredibly powerful underlying message,” says Kim Selody, Artistic Director of Presentation House Theatre and Director of Jack and the Magic Bean. “Young audiences ages three to eight are urged to accompany Jacky on her journey, helping her grow the beanstalk and climb it, and then become the bugs in the dirt to help make her garden grow. At the same time, the play tackles themes of poverty, irresponsible farming practices, and sustainability, offering a vital and urgent message – we must all learn to respect and care for the Earth for the sake of future generations.”

Co-produced by Presentation House Theatre and Mexico’s Marionetas de la Esquina, Jack and the Magic Bean is a newly imagined version of the original Jessie Award-winning adaptation, written by Vancouver playwright Linda A. Carson. Inspired by its recent international debuts in Kansas City, MO and in Mexico City — in which the play was translated into bilingual and Spanish versions — the beloved tale has been reworked in a joyful collaboration between the award-winning theatre companies.

A 55-minute interactive experience for families with children ages three to eight, Jack and the Magic Bean offers rich imagery and playful immersion, encouraging kids to not just watch Jacky’s story unfold, but to be an active part of its unfolding. Children will be captivated by the narrative’s ‘story gardener’ who needs their fertile imaginations to make the story grow; delightfully scared by the health-conscious ogre who likes to eat humans but refrains due to his indigestion; and gleefully enthusiastic to become the tiny bugs wriggling through the soil — both to escape the grasp of the mighty giant and to help teach Jacky about the process that will ultimately save her garden and help feed her family: composting.

First premiered at Toronto’s Young People’s Theatre in 2012 as Jack and the Bean, this enchanting tale has toured across Canada to Presentation House Theatre, Manitoba Theatre for Young People and the Ottawa International Children’s Festival, and internationally, to The Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, MO and La Titeria de Marionetas de la Esquina in Mexico City.

From the award-winning creative team of Where the Wild Things Are and Baking Time, this presentation promises to awaken children’s curiosities surrounding gardening, the balance of life cycles, and protecting our planet.

About Presentation House Theatre (phtheatre.org)

Nestled in the heart of North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale, Presentation House Theatre (PHT) has become a neighbourhood cultural hub, providing the community with a dynamic mix of professional theatre, music, and dance productions — all just a Seabus away from downtown Vancouver. As North Shore’s professional theatre company, PHT has entertained audiences with innovative programming and quality professional productions in their wonderfully intimate space for nearly 40 years. PHT is committed to presenting and producing shows of the highest standard, and appealing to the diversity of North Shore audiences. They proudly offer programming for children and youth, adults young and old.

About Marionetas de la Esquina (marionetas.com.mx)

Marionetas de la Esquina (mah-ree-oh-NEY-tas dey la eh-SKEE-nah) is known internationally for its inventive puppetry. The company performs shows in both English and Spanish. Since 1975, they have given more than 11,000 performances and more than 50 workshops and seminars to teachers, students, and audiences about puppetry, playwriting, theatre, and design.