Junie B. Jones Wows and Delights at Lyric Theatre

Kristen Küns as Junie B. Jones Photo Courtesy of KO Rinearson

….by Adrienne Proctor

Junie B. Jones is a beloved book series about a precocious, intelligent little first grader, and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma has brought her to life on stage. Kristin Küns stars as the energetic young Junie, and her cast of friends and family are equally charismatic and fun. The cast features six actors, most in multiple roles.

While Küns may only have one role, as the title character she’s on stage for the duration of the show. Küns sings, dances, and bounces about the stage with all the heart of a tireless six year old, and never once loses her energy. Küns is intriguing in her take on young Junie. She’s as cute as can be, convincingly youthful. What she isn’t, however, is cheesy and overdone. Junie B. is a wildly popular children’s book character, and this production is the latest of Lyric’s Theatre for Young Audiences, which welcomes Junie’s biggest fans- kids. With those youngsters in mind, Küns clearly seeks to do her character justice. She’s true to the curiosity and positivity that has made Junie B. Jones so admired by young readers and their parents.

The other players sharing the spotlight with Küns are well-suited for the energy and vibrancy of this musical. Justin Larman is lovely and humorous as Daddy and quite hilarious as Mr. Scary. His most popular portion of the show is when he comes bumbling out on stage as the loveable lunch lady Mrs. Gutzman. In this role he’s perfectly entertaining, and the kids love her!

Mahalia Gronigan is best in her role as May, the cutesy teacher’s pet and proclaimed enemy of Junie B. Gronigan’s minor roles are as Mother and Grace. Those moments are small but efficient, saving her best time to shine as May. Gronigan is consistently precious and bright eyed, owning the innocence and mild, endearing arrogance that six year olds can so easily get away with.

Cole H. Cloutier is somewhat swallowed up by his child-like speech impediment. It’s verging on hard to understand, and that element is distracting from the character of Sheldon. But he makes up for it in his on-stage stunts and antics that bring audible laughter from the fun-loving kid patrons.

Micah Marine stars as Junie’s new best friend Herb. Marine’s soft spoken and reassuring presence on-stage balances out the overwhelming energy of Küns. Marine is adorable in his turn as Camille, one half of a set of twin girls in Junie’s class.

Emily J. Pace is diversely cast as pink-dress clad Lucille, bratty Bobbi Jean Piper, and rough and tumble class clown Jose. Pace spins and turns in perfect harmony as girlie girl Lucille, Junie B’s former best friend. She has several changes from Lucille to Jose and back again. Pace is perfect for both roles, with facial expressions as unique as each character. She’s so much fun to watch bebop around the stage as you wonder just what she’ll do next.

Credit must be given to this production’s director, Ashley Wells. Wells has created a magical world on stage, where children of all ages can see a relatable character come to life. But not only will the kids enjoy it; Wells has not forgotten about the chauffeurs! Parents will enjoy this fun musical just as much as the newest patrons.

The ability of the actors to change character, costume, and voice so quickly is downright astonishing. The rapid-fire quick changes may go unnoticed by the more enraptured kids in the audience, but they’re no less impressive. In several scenes, the cast members even have to jump back and forth between female and male characters, a feat they all accomplish seamlessly and in mere seconds.

This show is perfect for children and families. The run time is about an hour and fifteen minutes, just enough length to feel like a full show, but not so long that little ones start getting antsy. There’s a range of musical numbers that keep little ears engaged, and the harmonies are akin to more adult geared shows. According to this reviewer’s four year old son, Junie B. is “great” and “cool”! We can’t stop singing the tunes!

If you’re looking for a polished and professional theatre experience for your whole family, look no further than the Lyric and Junie B. Jones.

Junie B. Jones: The Musical, presented by Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, runs until March 25^th at the Lyric’s Plaza location. For tickets, visit lyrictheatreokc.com or call the box office at 405-524-9312.