THE FARM THAT MAC BUILT

This Animal Theater production, way off-Broadway, has some unexpected guest appearances.

Beet microphone in hand, the scarecrow from Old MacDonald’s farm narrates this stage production of a “mostly true story.” The MC begins: “This is the farm that Mac built. / These are the … // …pigs (Oink!) that live on the farm / that Mac built.” The suit-clad pigs are followed by cows in tasteful frocks. Pig-and-cow pairs dance around the barn stage. Next come the…monkeys?! The scarecrow shoos them off the stage, and the sheep “(Baa!)” enter in tutus, with one performing a graceful grand jeté. Much better…but they are followed by…breakdancing kangaroos?! The scarecrow apologizes, and a one-horse band joins the production “(Neigh!).” Next, of course are—Wagnerian elephants? Sheesh. Eggs arrive, and that’s all well and good…but these hatch into penguins. After a short moment, the scarecrow assembles everyone (who belongs) for a curtain call of animal sounds that includes one more giggle-inducing oopsie. Sauer’s cumulative mashup of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and “The House That Jack Built” will delight audiences familiar with both. Urbanovic’s cartoon illustrations of (mostly) clothed animal performers elevate this nightmare production into a hilarious comedy of errors. There are plenty of details in the illustrations to prompt new laughs in subsequent reads.

No owls here, but this one is definitely a hoot.