I remember SRA color coded reading cards from elementary and middle school. You worked through a section independently and then moved to the next color after successful completion. These self-directed lessons were pervasive in 1960 and 1970 classrooms. Nerd alert: I recall loving them. Before that, McGuffey’s Ecletic Readers were the dominant graded primers from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. Theater company Little Lord has created the inconceivably enjoyable Skinnamarink based primarily on these books.
From the 1830’s, McGuffey’s readers helped standardized English language usage in the United States. 122 million books were reportedly sold by 1925. More Americans learned to read from this series which, not surprisingly, reflected (and shaped) moral values of the 19th century. The first book starts with: “The dog. The dog ran.” Words are accompanied by a picture. Each lesson is progressively more difficult. At the end of the book, some questions and moral advice are tacked on. “Have you taken good care of your book?” “Children should always keep their books neat and clean.”
Into the theater we now enter together. Everyone is given a name sticker. We are all John. Cast members emerge. One stands by the dunce cap. Another looks to be in time out. A third stands in the middle of the room. The fourth is lying on the ground in a yellow body outline. On to the lessons we go: “Birds are in the nest. Nests are in the trees…” A woman’s voice on an intercom announces the next tasks such as roll call, exercise or snacktivity. When the bell rings, it can simply be everyone yelling “bell, bell, bell.”
What makes Skinnamarink work so effectively is the commitment to sending up childhood memories of school while commenting on universal brainwashing. About a larger female: “Lucy is a greedy girl. Why is she a glutton?” About behavior: “I promise not to be a naughty little girl.” Adding in the whimsical: “It’s just a Vitamin D shot; don’t be so paranoid.”
If you can instantly recognize a math problem which begins, “if a pound of prunes costs thirteen cents today…” then you will firmly connect with this material. Skinnamarink is absurdist theater and very, very funny. The entire cast is deadly serious in performing these increasingly silly and manic intervals. When we get to a conversation about which jobs a new colony needs, a farmer is an obviously good choice. One student suggests celebrity spokesperson. “We don’t need anyone to tell us what’s interesting. We know what’s interesting.”
The polish exhibited throughout this 75 minute comedy has to be credited to Little Lord’s Artistic Director and performer Michael Levinton who also helmed the staging of this physically inventive piece. It’s ritualistic, symbolic, idiotic and smart. That combination is not easy to do this successfully. A couple of fun tunes like the title song and exceptionally strong lighting effects (Cha See) enliven this madcap variety show and tell.
The end notes in McGuffey’s first book states that “your parents are very kind to send you to school. If you are good, and if you try to learn, your teacher will love you, and you will please your parents.” Herding cats into bland uniformity has always been an unfortunate byproduct of our educational system. But the follow up line really speaks to American values: “When you go home, you may ask your parents to get you a Second Reader.”
I loved Skinnamarink. It’s a hilarious blast of brightly vivid creativity, a wicked skip down memory lane and an indictment on the persistently pushed cultural homogenization of our society. As for the future? “When there’s nothing left here except for the recycling, you will know that I loved you.” Bravo, all.