Amelia Community Theatre
Submitted by Linda McClane
Managing Director
May 10, 2018 3:00 p.m.
“Have your destination in mind.” Milo, a boy who never knows what to do with himself, hears these words as he discovers a highway tollbooth right in the middle of his bedroom. Because he has nothing better to do, he gets into his toy car and begins his journey to Lands Beyond, in The Phantom Tollbooth, a theatre for young audiences production at Amelia Community Theatre.
Based on the classic children’s fantasy/adventure novel by Norton Juster published in 1961, and adapted for the stage by Susan Nanus, this full length production with adult actors is recommended for adults and children ages five and up.
Milo is joined in his travels by Tock, the watchdog, and the Humbug, as they visit Dictionopolis, where letters and words are sold at the market, and Digitopolis, where miners dig for numbers that are as valuable as precious stones. The trio begin a quest to rescue Princess Rhyme and Princess Reason, and bring harmony back to a troubled kingdom.
The cast includes Rebecca Alexander, Ellen Blair, John Chastine, Chris Collinsworth, Jan Cote-Merow, Jayne Jeney, Jeff Goldberg, Marah Lovequist, Bea Osbon, Andrew Senesac, Kay Stephens, and Peggy Strickland.
In a 2011 interview on the NPR radio program, All Things Considered, author Juster said, “Not everyone in the 1960s publishing world embraced the book. Many said the vocabulary was too difficult and the ideas were beyond kids. But my feeling is that there is no such thing as a difficult word. There are only words you don’t know yet.”
ACT’s production will be on the Studio 209 stage at 209 Cedar Street, with performances at 7 p.m. on May 18-19, 24-26, and at 2 p.m. on May 20 and 26. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children and students through college, and available at www.ameliacommunitytheatre.org or by calling 904-261-6749.