Ulysses, played by Chris Stahl (left), is a squirrel rescued by Flora (Livie Ketri) in a scene from Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of Flora & Ulysses, based on Kate DiCamillo’s best-selling children’s book. The production runs from February 15 through March 9.

Theatre

A Squirrel with Superpowers Takes Center Stage at Wheelock Family Theatre

Theatrical adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s award-winning novel Flora & Ulysses opens February 15

A near-tragic accident that has unexpected consequences hardly sounds like a promising premise for a sweet and funny story of the power of friendship. But as anyone who has read Kate DiCamillo’s best-selling children’s book Flora & Ulysses knows, in the hands of a gifted writer, anything is possible.

DiCamillo’s novel opens with a squirrel named Ulysses being sucked into a vacuum cleaner. When he is rescued by 10-year-old self-proclaimed cynic Flora Belle Buckman, he emerges with superpowers: the ability to fly, write poetry, and understand what people are saying. But Ulysses isn’t the only one who undergoes a metamorphosis. Flora, struggling to find her place in the world following her parents’ recent divorce, emerges stronger and more secure, buoyed by the unexpected friendships she makes after helping Ulysses.

Now, DiCamillo’s Newbery Award–winning book has been adapted for the stage, and happily for local young theater-goers, it’s about to open at Wheelock Family Theatre (WFT), with all of the quirky but endearing characters readers have come to cherish.

Nick Vargas, WFT executive director, says he thinks young audiences will quickly identify with Flora, and with William Spiver, the 13-year-old boy she befriends, who is also navigating a complicated family dynamic. 

“The things that Flora and William are experiencing are things that many kids are living through, and they don’t often have a story on stage that they can relate to,” says Vargas. “It’s a universal story of growing up.”

The stage production, adapted by John Glore, is directed by Joshua Rashon Streeter, an Emerson College assistant professor of theater education, whose research focuses on theater for young audiences. He says the story’s message of the importance of perseverance, taking risks, and overcoming challenges by being brave is one that will resonate with those of all ages. 

“That kind of superhero mentality is something we can all learn from,” Streeter says.

The production employs a dazzling mix of projections inspired by the book’s illustrations and by videography and puppetry to bring DiCamillo’s story to life. Movement, Streeter says, is central in conveying the fast-paced tempo of the production.

“There are a lot of movement sequences, and figuring out how we’re telling the story through that movement is challenging,” he says. “The set transforms, and we have to figure out how to tell that story as it’s changing.”

The three leads are played by WFT newcomer Livia “Livie” Ketri as Flora, 13-year-old WFT veteran Jack Baumrind as William, and adult actor Chris Stahl as Ulysses. 

A 10-year-old fifth grader, Ketri describes her character as someone “who has always kind of pushed the world off around her and who almost puts up a shield when it comes to talking to other people.” She had read the novel for school and says she “absolutely loved it,” never anticipating that she’d get to play Flora on stage. As an actor, she says she loves the challenge of portraying a character undergoing an emotional transformation. 

“Her friendship with Ulysses changes her,” Ketri says. “It offers a new insight for her, a new view of the world, a new perspective on things.” 

To prepare for his role as Ulysses, Stahl says he spent a lot of time watching squirrels in parks and reading up on their habits. He portrays the character both as an actor and as a puppeteer. (The wonderful puppets are designed by Amanda Gibson.) Stahl had worked with puppets before and says he’s enjoyed the physicality it demands.

“There’s a lot of wagging of the tail, and when Ulysses is attentive, he’s up, looking around, seeing his environment,” Stahl says. “When he’s wanting to understand what someone’s saying, he’s looking directly at them and maybe leaning in a little bit forward, or if he’s not liking what they’re saying, maybe leaning a little back. It’s all about creating a vocabulary of movements that are readable not just to the audience, but to the other actors.” 

Flora and Ulysses is Baumrind’s first nonmusical. The young actor played Pugsley in WFT’s The Addams Family in 2023 and was in the ensemble of Wheelock’s James and the Giant Peach in 2019. A huge fan of DiCamillo’s book, Baumrind says it’s been exciting to help bring the story to life for an audience.

“Putting it on a stage makes me happy because I love the story so much,” he says.

Flora & Ulysses runs February 15 through March 9 at Wheelock Family Theatre, 180 Riverway, Boston. Performances are Saturday, February 15, at 2 pm and 6 pm; Sunday, February 16, at 2 pm; Wednesday, February 19, and Thursday, February 20, at 11 am; Saturday, February 22, and Sunday, February 23, at 2 pm; Saturday, March 1, at 2 pm and 6 pm; Sunday, March 2, at 2 pm; Saturday, March 8, at 2 pm and 6 pm; and Sunday, March 9, at 2 pm. Ticket prices range from $26 to $52. BU students, faculty, and staff are invited free of charge opening weekend; to reserve your ticket, use code “BUOpen.” BU students can purchase $15 tickets to any performance using the code “College.” Faculty and staff receive a 20 percent discount off a full-price ticket with code “BUStaff.” Purchase tickets here, call 617-353-3001, or email WFTtix@bu.edu. ASL and AD performances are Saturday, March 1, at 6 pm, and Saturday, March 8, at 2 pm. The production is recommended for audiences 8 and older.