Merewyn Comeau wants young audiences to dare to dream with The Paper Bag Princess
Carousel Theatre for Young People brings the beloved Robert Munsch story to life at the Waterfront Theatre
Merewyn Comeau in The Paper Bag Princess. Photo by Moonrider Productions
Carousel Theatre for Young People presents The Paper Bag Princess from April 22 to May 10 at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island.
IN ROBERT MUNSCH’S classic kids’ story The Paper Bag Princess, a dragon storms a kingdom and burns up everything in sight, leaving the titular heroine, Elizabeth, with only a paper bag to wear and a prince to rescue.
Now Carousel Theatre for Young People is reimagining that upended fairy tale for the stage. Merewyn Comeau, who stars as Elizabeth, says the works of Robert Munsch were treasured bedtime stories for her growing up. Her favourites included Thomas’ Snowsuit, I Love You Forever, and, of course, The Paper Bag Princess.
“I think Robert Munsch’s books were different for me as a young reader than others, because we could play as we read,” Comeau shares in an interview with Stir. “He is an expert at weaving absurdity and silliness into complex and poignant stories that are joyful and engaging. Some of the alliteration and the literary tools that he uses like ‘blam blam blam’ and ‘gluck’ are absurd and exciting. I think, paired with the illustrations, there is just so much story in between the lines and so much room to play, engage, and dream.”
In this theatrical adaptation directed by Kathleen Duborg, playwright Alissa Watson builds upon Munsch’s world in a true spirit of that kind of play.
“We’re diving in deeper,” Comeau says. “We’re learning that she [Elizabeth] cares about the environment, that she wants to be a prime minister someday. These are things that are of course not in the book, but I think are a beautiful blend of new ideas that honour the original story.”
This is not Comeau’s first production with Carousel Theatre. In 2019, she performed in Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” Recently, she’s been an assistant educator for the company’s summer drama camps, where she works with children aged six to 10 to develop and perform original plays.
“I think for me, theatre for young audiences is the most rewarding work that I do,” Comeau says. “I believe that children are our future, and helping them dream and play and explore is very important to me. I think live theatre is just a beautiful vessel to do that.”
Merewyn Comeau in The Paper Bag Princess. Photo by Moonrider Productions
Creating theatre for young people requires a delicate dance between excitement and sensory overload. Currently, Carousel Theatre uses a rating system to help parents and guardians decide if the show is right for their child. This production lists a: 2/5 for language, 2/5 for violence and scariness, 3/5 for sensory advisories, and 2/5 for potentially anxious moments.
However, Comeau notes that, while this rating system is a helpful tool, every child processes theatre differently. As well, Comeau believes we shouldn’t underestimate the resilience of children.
“We don’t give kids enough credit,” Comeau says. “Kids are smart. Kids are passionate. Kids are aware. And, you know, it’s okay to be a little scared sometimes. For some of our audience members, it’s their first time ever experiencing live theatre. Finding that happy balance where we can push ourselves in a safe way to explore uncharted territories … I think that’s something that Elizabeth does in this show, as well.”
Ultimately, Comeau explains that while there’s a lot of engaging and fun elements of the show, its true value lies in how it breaks down real-world issues for a young audience.
“The themes are really of expectations: the pressures we feel trying to navigate the expectations of our parents, our family members, our friends, and society, and the cause and effect of our actions,” Comeau says. “The Paper Bag Princess explores those challenges. It challenges societal norms, gender norms, expectations of how one should look, how one should dress and what they should do. I think that speaks to all children—all people in general. I think it’s a wonderful reminder that being yourself and taking your power is beautiful and that everybody deserves the opportunity to do that.”
“I am excited for audiences to feel empowered by this story. I am excited to see the shift in the audience from when they've arrived and when they leave, to see where they go with the power that they have within them,” Comeau says. “My hope is that I, myself, and the team can help inspire all audiences that see the show to dare to dream. And I'm excited and I'm hopeful that this offering will bolster people to take their power and to decide who they are and what they want to achieve.”
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