‘Three Little Birds’ @ Jubilee Theatre
Photos by Kyra McGhee
—Jan Farrington
Somehow, there never seem to be quite enough children’s shows during the long, hot Texas summer—when kids have time to see them, and everyone is looking for “cool” things to do.
Jubilee Theatre does its part with Three Little Birds, chirp-full of Bob Marley’s great reggae tunes—each one nesting nicely into a story written by his oldest daughter Cedella and adapted for theater by Michael J. Bobbitt. (And that’s it for the bird puns, I promise.)
Birds was a definite hit with the kids in the audience, who bounced and swayed and smiled back at the performers of the hour-long show. (The grownups had fun, too.) It was a just-right hour of fun—and then out the doors for treats, or (if it's a matinee) a runaround in the Sundance Square fountain.
Directed by Charles Jackson Jr., Three Little Birds (the title’s from a Marley song) tells the story of worrywort Ziggy, an 11-year-old in Jamaica who feels safer staying indoors, watching the weather reports (or doom-predicting science shows) instead of exploring the lush tropical island that’s his home. Ziggy, played by the very tall and sweet-faced Evan Christopher Arnold (his height alone is already making the little ones giggle), has to be lured outside by his bubbly friend Nansi (Autumn Robinson) and mother Cedella (Chaundra Norwood Gabriel)—but scuttles back to his “safe” house if anything makes him nervous.
And everything does.
In his defense, Ziggy is being stalked by the scary witch-like Duppy (AJ Bowman Shelton), who (though sporting more than a fair share of dreadlocks and curls—and some might not belong there!) wants to snatch Ziggy’s gorgeous hair—a source of great power, it seems. Shelton creeps and sneaks and makes the little kids go “oooh”—it’s a scene-stealing moment every time the character’s onstage—and we aren’t sure if Ziggy, Nansi, and the watchful Cedella can handle this supernatural being. We’ll have to see….
A cluster of concerned birds encourage Ziggy to be brave and get out there, led by the bossy Doctor Bird (LaMar Staton), who gives him an earful of caws, songs, and advice. Savannah Fennell and Nissi Chepkirui Sigei (with Gabriel at times) form the rest of the feathered contingent, singing and dancing (lively choreography by Kiandra Brooks) in wildly colorful costumes from Hope Cox. The set design by Gabrielle Malbrough, nicely mobile, is backed by a super-sized mural of green branches and bright birds in colorful silhouette, a beautiful concept from painter Jennye James, enhanced with imaginative projections by Holli Price.
But of course, Bob Marley’s music is the best thing of all. Songs fly by as Nansi gets Ziggy to “accidentally” explore the island—and each number has its own rhythms and beauty: “One Love,””So Much Trouble in the World,” “Every Little Thing,” “Lively Up Yourself,” “Is This Love?” and many more.
Three Little Birds plays through the end of August at Jubilee’s theatre space a half-block from Sundance Square. It’s a short, sweet intro to Marley’s music, and a reminder (to some of the kids and young adults in the audience) of the lullabies many parents make of his songs. A summertime treat, and not just for the kids!
WHEN: August 8-31, 2025
WHERE: 506 Main Street, Fort Worth
WHEN: jubileetheatre.org
