Chico Bon Bon, more to come to life on Saturday

HIBBING— Hibbing Community Education is hosting a kid’s comedy show, featuring a Duluth-based children’s author.

Renegade Presents: “The Wonderful World of Chris Monroe A Kids Comedy Show” is at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, on the stage of the Hibbing High School Auditorium. Admission is free.

Chris Monroe is a Duluth-based author and illustrator. Her children’s books include Monkey with a Toolbelt Chico Bon Bon.

Robert Lee, Director of Renegade, an improv group at Zeitgeist in Duluth, said the children’s comedy show debuted in Duluth on Sept. 21 at Zeitgeist Theater in Duluth.

“Colorful, high energy, and fun,” are how Lee describes the new show.

Monroe said watching her characters come to life on stage was “so touching and a bit surreal.”

“It is really a creative and funny show, and I laughed through the entire thing,” Monroe told the Mesabi Tribune via email. “Seeing how they have adapted the stories and added their own touches to make it work onstage is so fun to watch. The characters are just living their best lives without me. I loved it.”

“The absolute best part was watching the kids in the audience laugh,” Monroe added. “It brought tears to my eyes on several occasions. It is a very sweet experience and such an honor.”

Area residents are encouraged to have some fun with the hilarious and whimsical characters of Chris Monroe’s beloved children’s books. The even includes playing some tricks with some sneaky sheep, finding some mischief with Sasquatch and Squirrel, take a walk with Cookie, and of course solve problems with everyone’s favorite monkey with a tool belt, Chico Bon Bon.

Lee said the children’s comedy show includes characters from Monroe’s children’s stories, some portrayed by actors in costumes, and some with puppets.

Luke Morvek, a Duluth-based musician has written music to accompany the script, adapted on several of Monroe’s books, Lee noted.

“We’ve used her stories, which are just quirky and fun characters, and a really great humor.

A grant from the Hibbing Foundation made this event possible. Included in the grant is that each classroom Pk-Gr 3 gets a free copy of the book.