The Santa Maria Civic Theatre's "The House at Pooh's Corner" transports its audience to their childhood

Hundred Acre Woods Set

On Saturday, March 21st, the Santa Maria Civic Theatre presented “The House at Pooh Corner,” directed by Jaime Espinoza. The House at Pooh Corner tells the tale of Christopher Robin having one last adventure with his friends, Pooh, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, Owl, Pigglet, Rabbit, Rabbit’s nieces Early and Late, and Eeyore, before heading off to college. Pooh and his friends come up with a brilliant plan to run off to the South Pole with Christopher Robin to avoid him leaving for college, yet they face a few bumps along the way. However, Pooh and his friends persevere and overcome their challenges with each other's help. 

Director Espinoza created “The House at Pooh’s Corner” for all ages to enjoy. He states in his director’s notes of the playbill, “I wanted to send a message to everyone who comes into our theatre: it doesn’t matter how old you are, you can still have fun with your childhood toys.” He created a nostalgic play that truly transports you back to your childhood. Winnie the Pooh continues to teach life lessons to people of every age. 

One main theme that stood out from watching the play was the unconditional support and loyalty from friends. Espinoza showcased this theme through Pooh and his friends finding solutions to help Christopher Robin escape college, building Eeyore a house, and coming up with ways for Tigger to fit in their group. They were juggling these three bumps while waiting for Christopher Robin to return from his talk with his parents, but they persevered through communication, team building, and patience. Pooh and his friends worked together to build Eeyore a house strong enough to withstand the wind. They gave Tigger easier tasks to avoid him destroying their work. While they couldn’t run away with Christoper Robin, they supported him instead of making him feel bad for leaving for college. 

Christopher Robin and his pals share a fair amount of time on stage. The actors who played the characters did an exceptional job. They showed their connection to their character through their mannerisms, tone of voice, and movement throughout the play. A few characters that stood out throughout the show were Joseph Aranda (Christopher Robin), Rebecca McKinley (Pigglet), Madison Neilson (Kanga), and Cyrus Terry-Ah Yet (Tigger). They each embodied their role to the fullest, from their outfits to their gestures. They gave it their all in every scene. Aranda is a first-time actor, and “The House at Pooh’s Corner” is his first play. He portrayed Christopher Robin phenomenally with his acting by changing his voice to convey different emotions to the audience. He makes you laugh and cry with his performance. Neilson portrays Kanga beautifully. She embodies the character perfectly, showcasing how mothers tend to worry a little too much about their children’s health by micromanaging everything they do. Her outfit stood out from the rest of the crew the most with her maxi dress and apron. The entire cast’s performance was humorous, moving, and warm. It was like a hug from an old friend. 

The set design perfectly resembled the Hundred Acre Woods, with hand-painted sets that you can easily recognize as the original Winnie the Pooh movie setting. However, the sides of the set held a few random items, such as old boxes, crutches, and bags that could’ve been cleaned up and stored in a different area to reduce clutter and create a more appealing overview of the set. However, the lighting and sound enhanced the overall performance and set design. The team executed a remarkable set; they were highly creative. The entire performance and set design make you feel like you’re in the actual Hundred Acre Woods playing on set. You don’t feel like you’re sitting in a theatre in Santa Maria.