Review: “Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells” at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
Never let it be said that burping doesn’t go hand-in-hand with Christmas, because the new play at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte will certainly make you a believer. “Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!” is a hilarious, joyful window into childhood for both adults and children alike. Based on the beloved books by Barbara Park and adapted for the stage by Allison Gregory, Junie B. bursts into your heart and leads you on a wild holiday adventure.
From the moment that the lights dim, the hilarity of this crazy classroom of six students led by their teacher, Mr. Scary (played by the aptly named Josh Looney), grabs a hold of the audience and never lets go. But beyond the jokes (that had the adults laughing every bit as hard as their children), there is a wonderful message about tolerance for others, resolving conflict, and the ability to see true meaning in the holidays.
The casting of this show could not be better. From Mr. Scary’s unbelievable level of patience with his chaotic first grade classroom of characters to the hysterical Sheldon (perfectly captured by Jeremy Shane), the frenzy of childhood holiday excitement is electrifying. Between the colorful costumes to the wild story telling, it’s hard to remember that these six children are actually adults! Kudos to director, Ron Chisholm, for bringing the book to life in such a magical way.
Junie B., played wonderfully by Caroline Rigby, is not your typical protagonist. Right out of the gate, she is calling her archrival, the nosey, May (played by Casi Harris), names in her journal and causing mischief and chaos. With delightful, insightful asides to the audience, Junie B. gives us a window into her troubles with May’s tattling ways and plots and schemes against her foe.
The class has been selected to perform carols for the entire school and Junie B. is more than a bit worried about how May's antics could ruin the show. But when Junie B. chooses May’s name for Secret Santa, things go from bad to worse! Enter the coveted Squeeze-a-Burp toy found at the school’s holiday gift shop and you have all the makings of Christmas chaos.
Photo by Donna Bise
With Santa watching her like a hawk, the precocious Junie B. decides to change her snarky ways and finds a friend where she last expected. As for life lessons, when you avert your eyes from the stage and look around at the parents and children laughing together, exchanging winks and looks, the truest meaning of Christmas may be sitting right next to you, enjoying this wonderful show. This play is an absolute must see for any family this holiday season.
– Written by Kelly Yale
Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
December 2-23, 2011
McColl Family Theatre at ImaginOn
Front Orchestra $24 / General Section $18
Intended for Ages 5 and Up
December 5th, 2011 - 10:21
I think my boys would like to see this – looks really fun!!
December 5th, 2011 - 10:22
So excited to see this is playing! My girls are both big Junie B fans. Between them, I am pretty sure we own the entire collection of books. Sounds like the show captures Junie’s humor to perfection!
December 5th, 2011 - 10:22
Sounds wonderful! Love Junie B!
December 5th, 2011 - 10:23
Sounds like fun!!
December 5th, 2011 - 10:26
THIS LOOKS HILARIOUS….AS NOTED “had the adults laughing every bit as hard as their children!” THAT WOULD BE ME ALONG WIH REV (LOL) WOULD LIKE TO TAKE HIM TO THIS THIS YEAR!
December 5th, 2011 - 10:26
Love Junie B. and would love to see it brought to life on stage. We are so lucky to have Children’s Theater right here
December 5th, 2011 - 10:27
Oh I would love to go see this!! This sounds like an awesomely fun play!!!!
December 5th, 2011 - 10:29
I would love to win tickets to take my 1st and 4th grader that I homeschool. It would be a great fieldtrip!
December 5th, 2011 - 10:30
Pick me! Pick me! My 5 year old would love it!
December 5th, 2011 - 10:31
I have never had the joy of going to the Children s Theatre, but this looks like a great show to start with. I definitely want to expose my children to all the great arts in the Charlotte area. Junie B sounds like my kinda girl.
December 5th, 2011 - 10:36
My daughter would absolutely love to go see this!!
December 5th, 2011 - 10:41
This looks like so much fun. Brings back a feeling of childhood.
December 5th, 2011 - 10:41
Cannot wait to take my 7 year old daughter to see it (hopefully
)
She LOVES junie b jones!
December 5th, 2011 - 10:52
My daughter loves Junie B Jones!
December 5th, 2011 - 10:52
Love Junie B Jones — My son went to see a Junie B play in 1st grade and has loved the books ever since. Great family outing
December 5th, 2011 - 11:01
Charlotte Today is giving a great review right now! I would LOVE TO TAKE MY KIDS!
December 5th, 2011 - 11:02
Sounds like a show that my son and I would enjoy. Have heard other rave reviews about it as well.
December 5th, 2011 - 11:35
Sounds hilarious! I believe this is one production I’d love to take my granddaughters to see this season.
December 5th, 2011 - 11:45
This play sounds like a perfect event to take my three little ones, ages9,7 & 5 to enjoy some holiday cheer!
December 5th, 2011 - 11:51
Would LOVE to win these tickets to take my daughter to see this! The first thing on her Santa list this year is The Junie B Jones 28 book collection!!! She comes home from school telling me all about the funny Junie B. books that she reads during independent reading time!!! She would LOVE this!!!!
December 5th, 2011 - 11:54
Junie B is a family favorite. My older one used to LOVE reading them when she was in Kindergarten and 1st grade. Now that she is older, she reads them to her little sister-who’s 4, and they laugh and giggle at all of her antics, and choice of words!
December 5th, 2011 - 11:58
I love Junie B. Jones! Hoping to be able to take my kids to see this show. Thanks for bringing it to my attention that it was here. I <3 Modern Parent!!!
December 5th, 2011 - 12:13
I would love some tickets to go see this!!
December 5th, 2011 - 12:22
What a great review! I definitely would love to take my daughter to this. It would be a great Mommy & Daughter date for us.
December 5th, 2011 - 12:43
The children’s theatre is amazing and we love to attend!
December 5th, 2011 - 12:49
If this performance is half as entertaining as the book (which I’m sure it will be), everyone is in for a totally hilarious Christmas treat!
Hoping the kids and I get a chance to see it! 
December 5th, 2011 - 13:03
Sounds like a wonderful performance! My daughter loves the story books and we’d love to see the stage show.
December 5th, 2011 - 13:16
We LOVE Junie B!!! We have read or listened to all the books. My family would love to see this show. Great review!
kelly
December 5th, 2011 - 13:27
my daughter would love this – shared:)
December 5th, 2011 - 13:30
My sons love the antics of Junie B Jones. This sounds like a great performance for them to attend.
December 5th, 2011 - 13:43
Sounds like a great show – what a fun start to the Christmas season! Thanks for sharing.
December 5th, 2011 - 13:56
We love Junie B. Jones!
December 5th, 2011 - 14:06
To see this play is a great way to spur a child’s imagination and inspire them to read.
December 5th, 2011 - 14:21
This sounds great! My daughter is in 1st grade and loves Junie B Jones!
December 5th, 2011 - 14:28
My family and I would love to see “Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!” at the Children’s Theater of Charlotte. We saw our first show there in September and would love to continue attending this wonderful theater! Thank you for the opportunity.
December 5th, 2011 - 14:44
My daughter Rhiannon has read every Junie B. Jones book in the Waxhaw library!! We’d LOVE to go!!
December 5th, 2011 - 14:51
My kids would luv this show
December 5th, 2011 - 14:51
My 8 year old would Love to see this.
Merry Christmas!
December 5th, 2011 - 14:53
This sounds great!
December 5th, 2011 - 14:58
I think this would be an amazing experience for my children.. One of my daughters favorite author’s is Judy Blume.. Have an awesome day!
December 5th, 2011 - 14:59
My daughter LOVES the Junie B. Jones books! I would love to take her to see it!
December 5th, 2011 - 15:07
This sounds like great fun. We would love to see this. Haven’t had the opportunity to go see a show at the children’s theatre. Thanks for sharing this gift!
December 5th, 2011 - 15:14
This is great! My girls love Junie B. Jones. How fun!
December 5th, 2011 - 15:16
My 1st grader would love this! We have read all the Junie Books!!!
December 5th, 2011 - 15:22
I would love to take my daughter and neices to see junie b!
December 5th, 2011 - 15:24
This sounds like a lot of fun! I’d love to take my kiddos!
December 5th, 2011 - 15:27
My daughter Grace and her two friend that live in our cul-de-sac were all Junie B. Jones for character book parade at school. They were so cute. They swap their books, I think they have read them all. They would LOVE to go.
December 5th, 2011 - 15:49
My daughters LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Junie B. Jones series… they read the books constantly and love to fall asleep listening to the audio books…
I know that they would love to see this play for Christmas!
December 5th, 2011 - 16:33
I know kids at Omni Montessori who would LOVE to see this….and our school would LOVE to send them!
December 5th, 2011 - 16:34
Sounds like so much fun!!!!
December 5th, 2011 - 16:36
My boys would LOVE to see this play!!!
December 5th, 2011 - 17:15
What a great review!! Can’t wait to see this show.
December 5th, 2011 - 17:45
This would be SO much fun! My children would love it….I might love it more, admittedly!
December 5th, 2011 - 17:48
My little girl would love this show!
December 5th, 2011 - 17:53
I’d love to take my girls to this!
December 5th, 2011 - 18:04
My babies would love to see this! Sounds great!!
December 5th, 2011 - 18:05
I would love to take my kids to this!
December 5th, 2011 - 18:08
Sounds like so much fun! My kids love Children’s Theater! They loved attending Summer camp there! This production looks really great !!!
December 5th, 2011 - 19:01
I love Junie B. and CTC!!!!
December 5th, 2011 - 19:05
This looks super cute! Love Junie B
December 5th, 2011 - 19:06
looks great!!
December 5th, 2011 - 19:09
Would love to take my sisters to see this! They would love it!!
December 5th, 2011 - 19:16
Looks fantastic! I love to be able to laugh at the same thi gs my daughter does!
December 5th, 2011 - 19:18
I would love to win these tickets. I love the books and so does my 8 yr old daughter!
December 5th, 2011 - 19:19
This looks wonderful, my 7 year old loves these books.
December 5th, 2011 - 19:20
I would love to take my niece & nephew to this!
December 5th, 2011 - 19:20
My son would love this!! It would be such a fun outing for us!!
December 5th, 2011 - 20:07
My son just LOVES Junie B. Jones, he would love to be able to go see, this. I think my 5 year old daughter would love it too.
We love reading her books together as a family.
December 5th, 2011 - 20:09
My son loves Junie B. And so does my Niece. I know they would love to go.
December 5th, 2011 - 20:13
My daughter absolutely LOVES Junie B. Jones books. She is reading one now as we speak. She brought home stright A’s on her report card last week and we are planning to celebrate with going to see this show (have not got tickets yet). We would SO ENJOY the 4 tickets! We love the Children’s Theatre!!
December 5th, 2011 - 20:15
How fun would it be to take my son! Looks so cute!!
December 5th, 2011 - 20:25
We would love to see this and win tickets.
December 5th, 2011 - 20:36
I would REALLY love to win these tickets so I can take my girls to see this! they LOVE Junie B Jones!!! And i LOVE Modern Parent for the opp to win…
December 5th, 2011 - 20:42
My daughter loves Junie B Jones! This looks like a fun show.
December 5th, 2011 - 21:06
my 2nd grader loves junie b jones!
December 5th, 2011 - 21:06
Sounds wonderful!!!
December 5th, 2011 - 21:25
My 7 year old daughter loves Junie B Jones! This sounds absolutely amazing!
December 5th, 2011 - 22:25
We would love to see this. her books are so funny!
December 6th, 2011 - 10:49
My daughter has been reading Junie B since she was 4 and LoVEs her! Would love to see the show!