When winter comes and the holidays are near, anything seems possible! Even for two little mice who live in a traffic light on a busy Toronto street. Twisted Dog Theatre’s enchanting new work, Unbelievably Believable, takes audiences on a wondrous journey through the power of imagination. Written and directed by Catherine Maleikova, Unbelievably Believable is perfect for audiences of all ages.

There are two little mice who live high above the street in a traffic light. One of them pushes the buttons which changes the lights, while the other is rather afraid of just about everything. Armed with her broken cup armour and her shell phone (in case the ocean calls), that little mouse is a dreamer. She talks to her friend about the horse of winter that’s to bring in the snow that night, how the ocean can talk through shells, and how dragons can be tamed and rode through the sky! Meanwhile, her colleague has to deal with more serious matters, like permits, harbouring a rooster, and pushing all of those buttons! Their adventures together helps him see that there’s magic in the every day, and just in time for the holidays.

Unbelievably Believable is a great show for the little ones; at the performance I attended, there were plenty of younglings in the audience and they were totally entranced by the production. I think the melange of media helps a great deal with this, as there’s dance, traditional dialogue, puppetry, and projection all combined to create the magical world these characters are inhabiting. And with the much-needed message of being yourself, and that being yourself is being brave, it makes for a memorable performance for all audience members.

The puppets, designed by Denis Gonobolin are breathtakingly cute. Each one has a unique personality and design, making them a delight to watch. The cast puppeteers them so well and they embody the puppets’ quirks when they’re performing the same roles without the puppets. The whimsy and ethos of the story is perfectly embodied in these beautiful critters. 

Bringing this magical world to life are three stellar performers: Katie Crompton, Gregory Katsenelson, and Sophie St. Jean. Katie Crompton plays a host of characters, though I think my favourite is the raccoon! Crompton is vibrant and energetic, perfect for a show for the little ones. Sophie St. Jean brings an innocence and sweetness to her characters which make them absolutely adorable. Gregory Katsenelson’s character certainly has the most growth throughout the play, and he embodies that so well. I think a lot of the adults in the audience can relate to that feeling of “I have to just keep my head down and do what needs to be done,” even when it distracts us from the magic all around. 

Part of that magic is prevalent in the set design for this production. Maleikova’s design has much of the set looking like a children’s play room; cardboard boxes with drawn lines make up the majority of the backdrop of the set. It’s such a clear reminder of how we used to let our imaginations make a large box into anything and anywhere we wanted it to be. The giant cat which arrives at the finale of the piece is brilliant; giving us the illusion of its size without having to produce an actual giant cat which fills the stage. 

Unbelievably Believable is full of warmth, happiness, silliness, and imagination. This brilliant adventure for kids, and a good reminder for the adults too, will take you far away from the dreary weather and holiday hustle and bustle. With a 55 minute run time, it’s a perfect first show for your littlest theatre-goer.

Unbelievably Believable runs until December 15 at the Red Sandcastle Theatre. For more information and tickets, visit: https://twisteddog.ca/unbelievably_believable

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Cover photo: Gregory Katsenelson and Sophie St. Jean. Photo by Ivan Kaydash

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