By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
January 12, 2001
So you wouldn’t know Pokemon from Gumby’s pal Pokey. That’s OK. The producers of “Pokemon-Live!” promise that even adults will understand the concept of the stage production, which is based on the Japanese video game phenomenon that spawned an animated TV series as well as a couple of feature films.
“While kids will enjoy `Pokemon-Live!,’ it’s not aimed just at children,” says Norman Grossfeld, the show’s producer, lyricist and writer. “This is more of a Broadway-style production with many, many story arcs. There’s lots of action for the kids–plenty of Pokemon attacks onstage–but also a company of dancers and 17 production numbers, ranging from rock ‘n’ roll to a couple of ballads.”
Oh, and did we mention that Meowth (the cute, kittylike Pokemon, to you novices) gets to sing while accompanied by tango music?
Divided into two acts, the 90-minute show ends its first half with a cliff-hanger. Some of the younger attendees at previous shows, Grossfeld says, worried that the musical had ended without learning the fate of all their favorite characters.
“It was certainly a big challenge to take something two dimensional and put it into a 3-D world,” he says. “This is the first Pokemon-related thing that has been created in America. That showed a lot of confidence on the part of the Japanese rights people to give us the control to make this come to life. We’re not about to disappoint them. Or the fans.”
There have been discussions about taking the production to Japan, where Pokemon fever began, but there could be some confusion with the characters and how fans perceive them.
American children are accustomed to the same characters as their young Japanese counterparts. However, while the cartoons are drawn the same way, the Pokemon personalities are catered to suit the U.S. market.
“Meowth is more of a wise philosopher in the Japanese series,” Grossfeld says. “Over here, he’s more of a smart aleck.
And lest your child think that he or she knows about everything Pokemon, there’s a surprise in store: the introduction of MechaMew2–a giant, mechanical Pokemon that’s exclusive to the stage production.
`Pokemon-Live!’
Today through Jan. 21
Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River, Rosemont
Tickets, $14.50-$29.50
(312) 559-1212
