Chatham Life & Style

by Rachel Kasten & Emory Kasten, staff writers

Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook

Raleigh Little Theatre

Cantey V. Sutton Theatre

March 18 - 27, 2022

PLUS: a sensory-friendly matinee on April 2

Learn more and purchase tickets HERE.

Revisit Mom & Son’s 2019 review of Junie B. Jones the Musical at Raleigh Little Theatre

“I come from a long line of nutballs,” declares the title character in Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook. Coming from a long line of nutballs myself, and being the mom of my own nutball, I am always a sucker for kids’ shows with messages about embracing your weirdness.

I was a little skeptical about the necessity of Raleigh Little Theatre producing their second show in three years that’s based on the Junie B. Jones series of books by Barbara Park, but I thoroughly enjoyed this brisk (clocking in at 70 minutes without intermission), well-produced outing. Though the target audience of this show skews young, the production itself is certainly not childish. Thomas Mauney’s colorful set actually earned gasps from the audience as it descended from the fly system. The playground set was especially impressive, complete with ropes and monkey bars and hidey holes.

Director Kathleen Rudolph has assembled a strong cast of talented teens; while they certainly won’t be mistaken for the kindergartners they are playing, they come across just as self-assured and experienced as the adults in the show (playing the teacher/parent roles). Claire Fellows is a young RLT vet who brings life and humor to Junie B. herself. We get a few glimpses of real comedic talent from Fellows, and I look forward to seeing her in more adult roles in the future. Another standout is Miana White, whose snobby Lucille is perfectly prissy. Whatever that intangible it-factor is, White has it in spades. Casting directors, take notice.

I have a couple of relatively minor quibbles with the show, most notably that Junie B.’s oft-irritated teacher (Emily Langan), seems oddly cold compared with the warm, loving, patient kindergarten teachers I know in real life. I believe this is mostly an issue with the writing, though the schoolmarm-esque costume did no favors here. The rest of the costumes by Jenny Mitchell were appropriately colorful, mismatched, and rich in detail. I fully admit that I would love to twirl around in Lucille’s princess dresses and lacy socks. The sound design (by Juan Isler) is strong and dynamic overall, though the actors’ volume shifts noticeably as they move upstage. Still, I appreciate the overall use of the stage and the visual interest created by a combination of very smart direction, scenery, and lighting (by Thomas Matrejek).

Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook is funny and heartfelt, and--judging by the peals of laughter from several young children in the audience--engaging for even the littlest theatre goers. -- R. Kasten

I saw a play about Junie B. Jones three years ago, and in that review, I said that Junie B. is a jerk. I still believe that. This time though, Lucille is much meaner. Junie B. is also a nutball and a crook!

I say that because this play was about how being a nutball is not actually bad and how “Finders Keepers” is not the rule. I loved how the scenery (designed by Thomas Mauney)--playground, principal's office, classroom, etc.--floated down onto the stage. I also really liked the props: Junie B. told a story about a parrot, and there was a really cool parrot puppet.

It was also nice that the Junie plays I’ve watched aren't in real time. What I mean by that is that in real time, in the last play (three years ago) she was in first grade. Now she’s in kindergarten. In real time Junie would have been in fourth grade. Finally the music before the show was amazing! It included my favorite song: “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto.

I lost a book the last time I was at Raleigh Little Theatre, and this time, I was able to get it back from the Lost and Found. It’s funny, because that’s part of the story of Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook.

That is why I liked Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook. I recommend you watch it. Last time, I said that it was my favorite play I had ever seen. Now, I’ve seen even more plays, and I don’t think I have a favorite! -- E. Kasten

Rachel Kasten (she/her), staff writer, is a producer, writer, and community organizer serving as Graduate Program Coordinator for the PhD in Geospatial Analytics at NC State University. She co-founded Cutler Bay Community Theatre in Miami, FL and served on the board of the NC Women’s Theatre Festival. Rachel has previously published pieces for national publications on topics including infertility, feminism, and dismantling white supremacy. She writes as one half of Chatham Life & Style’s Mom & Son team, which reports on educational experiences and family arts events.

Emory Kasten (he/him), staff writer, is 9 years old and in 3rd grade. His mom, staff writer Rachel Kasten, took him to his first opera at age 2, and they’ve been attending shows together ever since. He loves musicals and is a proud Cub Scout. Emory enjoys writing stories, hoping one day to publish a book. He is the shorter half (for now) of Chatham Life & Style’s Mom & Son writing team, which reports on educational experiences and family arts events.