Theater to premier ‘Rumphius’

ORONO – Puffin Playhouse will present the world premiere of “Miss Rumphius,” an original stage adaptation of the beloved children’s book by Maine author Barbara Cooney.

Written and directed by Rebecca Cook, Puffin Playhouse’s artistic director, the play will be performed at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday, June 3-5, at Hauck Auditorium in the Memorial Union at the University of Maine.

The weekday shows will be presented especially for area schools. In addition, a 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7, performance will be offered to the public.

Cook will play Miss Rumphius, a character sometimes known as “the lupine lady,” and will bring the story to life with a cast of children including Orono Middle School sixth-grader Erin White; Asa Adams School third-graders Marisa Eastman and Ann Pollard-Ranco; and Asa Adams School fourth-graders Elizabeth Fox, Nick Peterson, Nicolai Renedo and Brewster Cherkis.

Set mostly in Maine, the story follows Miss Rumphius as she fulfills her three life ambitions – to visit faraway places, to live by the sea and to do something to make the world more beautiful.

Celebrating the joy and beauty of life, the Puffin Playhouse production of “Miss Rumphius” preserves every word of text, and the set reproduces many of the book’s illustrations on a large scale.

Music by Orono composer Barbara Smith will be featured, along with a dance number choreographed by Maureen Robinson of the Robinson Ballet, period costumes by Boston costumer Olivia Barrand and scenic artistry by Maine native and New York artist Alan Bull.

The production is supported by a grant from the Maine Community Foundation and by the University of Maine Deans of Students’ Office. Tickets are $5 at the door. Reservations are not required. Call 356-5987 for information.