“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,” a classic children’s novel by Kate DiCamillo, tells the story of a selfish toy rabbit made of porcelain learning to love as he passes through the hands of different owners. The story is well known for its emotional depth and themes of compassion and personal growth.
The tale was recently transformed into a theatrical production by the Mint Theatre Company, a student theater organization at the College of William and Mary. The adaptation was performed Friday, Oct. 24 through Sunday, Oct. 26 in the Studio Theatre of Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall.
Director Maddox Kromash ’26 crafted the play in a way that is both imaginative and captivating. The adaptation balanced the whimsy of a children’s story with emotional realism that appeals to an older audience. The decision to use a small cast of only four members was a bold but effective choice, making the production feel more personal and intimate. Each actor was required to take on multiple roles, showcasing their versatility and deep understanding of the story’s themes. The small ensemble approach also allowed the audience to feel more connected to the performers, emphasizing the personal nature of Edward’s journey.
The play begins with the introduction of Edward, a beautiful toy rabbit owned by a young girl who adores him. Dhanbee Suh ’27 quickly portrayed Edward as being wrapped up with his appearance and material possessions. He does not care about the ones who love him, because he is overly focused on himself and is too consumed by his own reflection to understand what love truly means. Suh captured this early arrogance with subtle humor.
As the story progresses, Edward is separated from his first owner and begins on his unexpected journey through the hands of different people, from a fisherman and his wife to a young boy and his dying sister. Every encounter changes Edward’s perspective on love. Edward faces difficult and emotional situations.
Throughout his journey, Edward experiences joy, companionship, sadness and even heartache. Through embracing these emotions, he learns the importance of love but wants to never love again. Edward realizes that love is not always about happiness, but also about the courage to open one’s heart, even when loss is inevitable. He is scared to love because he knows that love is not always easy. The play’s overall message is an impactful one: Opening your heart can lead to pain, but life is meaningless without love.
Suh’s intriguing performance managed to instill the real and raw emotions of Edward into the crowd through music and self-reflection. Through expressive body language and subtle facial expressions, Suh managed to highlight the complexities of Edward’s internal struggles. Suh has the ability to make an inanimate object feel human. By the end of the play, Edward is an entirely new rabbit. He does not think the way he once did, because he has known love.
Suh made this clear through her powerful performance. Edward’s role was played so well that it had the audience laughing and crying. Suh’s musical talents added another layer of depth. By playing the guitar multiple times throughout the production, Edward’s emotions were heightened.
The other members of the cast also delivered impactful performances through the vessels of multiple characters. Their transitions between characters were smooth and easy to follow.
Another important aspect to the production was the technical design. The set, though minimalist, used its pieces in a symbolic way. For example, the use of a bed produced a clear picture of the sick girl. The lighting and sound design complimented the simplicity. The quiet ticking of a clock added to the show without distracting from the performance. These subtle choices helped create an atmosphere that was focused on Edward’s inner transformation.
Reactions from the audience were very positive. Ava Canade ’28 attended the show to support her roommate, who worked as its stage manager. Canade felt that the adaptation of a children’s book based on love and friendship into a theater production was exciting.
“The story sounded interesting,” Canade said.
Canade shared that she was so captivated by the first performance that she came again for a second viewing, noticing new details each time.
“It was really cool to see tweaks the cast made and just get to see it again, and get to see it for a second time and kind of pick out new little bits of their performance,” Canade said.
Another student, Madison Danese ’28, said that, though she went into the play knowing very little and had not read the children’s book before, she was able to get a deep understanding of the story.
“Though it was kind of minimalistic, they really painted the picture in a really beautiful way,” Danese said.
Danese’s thoughts emphasized director Kromash’s vision to stage the show in an intimate way through a small theater and minimal props. This staging allowed for deeper connection with the audience. It felt as though the audience were part of Edward’s journey, not simply watching it.
The connection between the cast members themselves was also clear on stage.
“It was cool getting to work with a student director and all the other actors,” cast member Gwendolyn Butler ’29 said.
The cast members had to play multiple roles, and Butler was impressed that her fellow actors were able to put so much energy and time into each different character.
“Every single one of these actors really threw themselves into the heart of their character,” Butler said.
Mint Theatre Company’s successful production was all to do with its talented cast, director and stage workers. This production of “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” was more than a simple adaption of the beloved children’s book. It successfully conveyed the message of what it means to love and lose and choose to keep going.
