Tracy Rose makes hats. For the money she earns selling them, sure. But also for the art they embody, the heritage they celebrate and the community they create.
Orlando Family Stage isn’t telling Tracy’s story, however. In “Tiara’s Hat Parade,” the focus is on Tracy’s young daughter. And the play turns out to be about much more than hats.
Based on a children’s book by Kelly Starling Lyons, “Tiara’s Hat Parade” is really a story about what we teach our children. Mama’s hat business provides Tiara with lessons about self-respect, history, dedication and — most importantly — how, when times get tough, a little kindness goes a long, long way.
As Mama is wont to say: “Everything will be fine. Just remember to be kind.”
There’s beauty in the way Paige Hernandez’s stage adaptation of Lyons’ story introduces elements of African American culture beyond the importance of hats — food and church, for example — without distracting from the overall theme of self-empowerment and living thoughtfully.
All these ideas, by the way, fit neatly into the mission of Orlando Family Stage, celebrating its centenary this year. In fact, “Tiara’s Hat Parade” was co-commissioned by the local nonprofit with a consortium of other U.S. theaters that specialize in productions for young people.
That’s an exciting achievement and reflection of the theater company’s steady growth. Today, Orlando Family Stage is the only professional theater for young audiences in Florida and one of the top 10 in the nation, with a commitment to developing new productions.
That commitment brought us “Tiara’s Hat Parade,” which stars a single actor playing all the parts — Tiara, her friends, her parents, the hat-shop customers and even the school bully.
Tiara (Lydia Danielle) sees the magic in her mother’s hat-making studio in “Tiara’s Hat Parade,” now playing at Orlando Family Stage. (Courtesy Orlando Family Stage)
Lydia Danielle is that actor, and she brings a natural warmth and exuberance to the stage. As directed by Ke’Lee Pernell, with an assist from Mandi Jo John-Szendrei, Danielle clearly delineates the characters with a range of voices and postures. Her whole energy changes as she morphs from exuberant Tiara to a regal hat buyer.
She’s also called upon to sing, in an energy-lifting moment, and — let’s not forget this — singlehandedly hold the attention of a room full of elementary school pupils for 75 minutes without intermission. No small feat.
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Pernell, John-Szendrei and Danielle succeed nearly all the time in this — and of course, they do have help: Ben Lowe’s action-following lighting, Rob Siler’s dynamic projections, Anthony Runfola’s musical underscoring and impactful sound effects and Evonne Nicole’s costuming, including some hats originally designed by Margarette Joyner.
It all plays out on one of the biggest sets I’ve ever seen for a one-person show. Designed by Tramaine Berryhill, the three levels display the warmth of Tiara’s family while putting Mama’s beautiful hats front and center and making space for artistic magic.
Seventy-five minutes is a lot to ask of a young audience, and there are certainly some slack sequences that are tough for the littlest theatergoers; in one scene, adapter Hernandez wanders off the plot to expound on hat-making terms, for example. A little trim and some more interaction with the kids during a couple of long, talky stretches would help.
Ben Lowe’s lighting and Rob Siler’s projections enliven the Orlando Family Stage production of “Tiara’s Hat Parade,” starring Lydia Danielle. (Courtesy Orlando Family Stage)
I’m confident in the success of the interactive moments because the students at my performance were nothing if not enthusiastic in answering Tiara’s questions and repeating lines when asked. Let’s hope as they were excitedly and loudly reciting Mama’s advice, they took it to heart: “Just remember to be kind.”
Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more entertainment news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/entertainment or sign up to receive our weekly emailed Entertainment newsletter.
‘Tiara’s Hat Parade’
• Length: 75 minutes, no intermission
• Where: Orlando Family Stage, 1001 E. Princeton St. in Orlando
• When: Through Feb. 22
• Cost: $20-$48
• Info: orlandofamilystage.org