Unique role in the jungle

Laguna kids are learning the “Bare Necessities” of stage production in the days leading up to the premiere of “The Jungle Book,” Gallimaufry Performing Arts’ new musical based on the classic Disney film, which opens tomorrow.

It’s a family affair at the Artists’ Theatre, where three Mansour kids, three Henderson kids, two Redfearn kids and two Smith kids join Haley Castuera and her mother, co-director Kym Sawtelle-Castuera.

The show depicts the child Mowgli, who is raised in the wild by wolves and other creatures but has to be sent back to a village when man-eating tiger Shere Khan returns to the jungle.

The majority of the musical deals with Mowgli’s reluctant return to civilization. Low-hanging vines that drape the set evoke the humid jungles of India.

Gallimaufry’s Executive Artistic Director, Steve Josephson, produces and co-directs the show with Sawtelle-Castuera.

Musical direction is by Karen McBride, who spoke of how the show will help audiences learn there is more to Laguna’s kids than reality television chooses to portray.

“The Jungle Book” is one of choreographer Tod Kubo’s last shows in Laguna, but he hinted he’s contracted to be involved in a show next summer.

For this show, he’s focused on the various animals’ movements.

“Each dancer has their own method of carrying themselves,” Kubo said.

Kaa the snake slithers; Baloo gambols; Bagheera the panther prowls. The dances are rhythmic, and highly athletic.

“Everybody who watches it will definitely know it’s my work,” Kubo said.

The show is presented in a storytelling style, with young children who sit on the stage for much of the show, taking it in.

Narratives and interpretive dance help guide the story along between classic Sherman Brothers tunes like “Bare Necessities” and “I Wanna Be Like You.”

“I had to watch the video over and over,” said Haley, who plays the evil Kaa, an Indian python.

Haley portrays the head and voice of Kaa; several other girls follow her to form the remainder of Kaa’s body, like a Chinese New Year’s dragon. They subtly echo her words.

Haley’s big number is “Trust In Me,” in which she attempts to hypnotize Mowgli.

“I love that song; I’m obsessed with it,” she said.

Haley joked she even thinks about the show at home, as her mother talks about it there. She had to tell her, “‘Mom, I need a break from it.’”

But she doesn’t take the relationship for granted.

“My mom’s basically my acting coach and director,” she said.

Brendan McGrady, who stole the show as Lumiere in Laguna Beach High School’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” earlier this year, plays pompous, military-minded Indian elephant Colonel Hathi to great effect.

Fellow “Beauty and the Beast” star Noah Plomgren is a natural as Baloo the bear; he plays the “stupid, shiftless jungle bum” with abandon — even in a coconut bra and grass skirt.

Cooper Henderson, who plays long-limbed King Louie the Orangutan, is effortlessly cool, reminiscent of Sky Masterson in “Guys & Dolls.”

Chloe Mansour, who stars as Mowgli, shines as she is put through her paces in a variety of complicated dance numbers.

Bagheera is played by Samantha Morrice, who has excellent comedic timing and is extremely lithe, as required in her role as a panther.

Erica Bender is a scary Shere Khan, but won’t terrify the youngsters; Erika Tang guides the narrative (and Mowgli) with grace as Indian girl Shanti.