One of the word's most favorite children's story characters has arrived in China with a mission: To bring fun and laughter to thousands of Chinese youngsters.

Disney's multi-million yuan production of Winnie the Pooh has been wowing audiences throughout China and ends its tour at Beijing's Poly Theater next month. The show has already visited Shenzhen, Dongguan, Shunde of Guangdong Province and Wuhan of Hubei Province and involves special Chinese narration.

Winnie the Pooh brings the characters of the Hundred Acre Wood to stage in an interactive and three-dimensional production designed by a Broadway-calibre creative team.

The story is simple. The honey-loving bear is joined by his friends: Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore (the donkey), Rabbit, Kanga (mother kangaroo) Roo (baby kangaroo) and Owl. They plan a surprise party for Winnie and engage the audience to keep Pooh bear distracted from remembering that it is his birthday. Piglet accompanies Winnie along the way and they get caught up in adventures and take the audience on an imaginative musical journey.

Feld Entertainment regional vice-president of Asia/Australia Michael Daynes, who is producing the show, said the play has captivated audiences worldwide.

"It has toured 13 countries since it premiered in New Zealand in 2004 and I believe the Chinese children and their families will enjoy it as much as the families in all the other countries," he said. "Children and their parents are encouraged to sing, dance and play along with Pooh and his friends in an exciting, interactive family entertainment experience, staged in an elaborate Hundred Acre Wood set," he said.

Poly Theatre spokesman Zou You said "Winnie the Pooh" was quality entertainment for all generations. "I think family entertainment will be a big thing over the summer holidays. Even adults who are not normally interested in the theatre often want to expose their children to something artistic."

Chinese narration

Narrating the tale is Tracie Franklin, who guides the audience with the help of her three amusing and eager Honey helpers. The helpers provide constant laughs as they help change scenes, interact with children and follow Tracie's direction throughout the story.

For the China tour, a local Chinese narrator helps Tracie communicate with local audiences.

Mums, dads and children are encouraged to sing along to the famous Disney songs including new arrangements by musical director David Loud of Winnie the Pooh and The Whoop-De-Dooper Bounce.

State-of-the-art digital projection transforms the stage. For the first time, Feld Entertainment has worked with Disney animators to create stage backgrounds inspired directly by Disney's films and the classic Winnie the Pooh tales. The varied landscapes of the Hundred Acre Wood come to life with blowing leaves, fluttering butterflies and changing seasons.

The creative team's objective was to open a portal, which rocketed the audience to this very special fantasy world.

"When the audience walks in and sees the set before them, they will feel like they are walking right into the Hundred Acre Wood," said Star Daily reporter Wang Daming, who watched the show last week in Shenzhen, the first stop of the show's China tour. "From the moment the towering trees part on the stage, revealing the depth and beauty of Winnie the Pooh's world, the audience is immersed in an enchanting live interactive theatrical experience.

"Each scene unfolds with nostalgic beauty, indulging guests with song, laughter and adventure. Beautiful colours, life-sized props, amazing sound and light combine to produce a dazzling effect."

Director BT McNicholl said each minute of the show was carefully planned. "We went about making sure that each scene, each song and each moment was engaging in the best way."

Production designer Anna Louizos, who recently designed the sets for Broadway shows including the Tony Award-winning Avenue Q, Golda's Balcony and Steel Magnolias, drew on her experiences to create an amazing set. "In theatre, you invite the audience to make connections and think about the set and storyline in ways that aren't necessarily spelled out for them," Louizos said. "In envisioning the set, I wanted the audience to really feel like they were enveloped by the Hundred Acre Wood."

Lighting designer Patrick Dierson said the latest technology was used to help illustrate the story. "The lighting does not dominate the show like it would in a rock concert what I wanted to accomplish for Winnie the Pooh was to add a subconscious mood," he said.

A cast of 15 performers takes to the stage under the choreography direction of Christopher Gattelli, whose theatre credits include Chess, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular and Godspell.

Gattelli said a good sense of humor was needed to build the dance routines for the show. "The dance numbers have to play on two different levels so that both children and adults are entertained and involved as participants."

Winnie The Pooh starts at Beijing's Poly Theatre on August 17-21. Tickets cost from 180 yuan to 380 yuan. For more information call 5166-2007, 6523-1499.

(China Daily July 27, 2006)