The Calico Buffalo is an enchanting adaptation of the children’s book by E.J. Stapleton, who adapted his own work into a musical with musics and lyrics co-written by Peter Stopschinski. The story takes place in an ancient land ruled by buffalos, who as the show begins are about to welcome a new heir to the throne, the offspring of Chief (Rhys Gilyeat) and Willa-Mah (Rachel Rhodes-Devey). What should be a happy occasion to most, is a mournful moment for the envious Thorn (Max Wilcox) who wishes to occupy the throne himself. Lucky for him his dream might come true as the Queen gives birth to a strange little calf she names Bora-Boh (Zachary Infante) who is born covered in multicolored spots that threaten his rightful place as next in line for the throne. His parents choose to disguise him and he grows up not knowing why his true self must be kept secret.
One day he befriends a little toad named Bittle (Brooke Shapiro) who just like him, feels like the odd creature out, and the two set out on an unexpected adventure in order to make better sense of who they are. Mostly aimed for children, The Calico Buffalo carries a message of tolerance and acceptance that feels essential for the littlest ones to grasp from as early on as possible, but for a show designed for kids, it’s able to remain gripping for adults as well, who will undoubtedly be delighted by the inventive choreography by Billy Sprague Jr. and the phenomenal acting all over, with Gilyeat and Rhodes-Devey leaving a special mark as the loving and lovable parents.
As directed by Craig J. George, The Calico Buffalo is beautifully executed and beyond the main message it tries to convey, it also has a lot to say about the art of performance. Particularly interesting is how as the show begins we see the actors arrive and put on their costumes, perhaps in order to remind children that what they’re seeing is a performance and not “reality”, or perhaps to remind adults that for all the acceptance going on inside the show, once the curtain falls we’re left going back to a world where such values are not as easy to find.
