Cartoons and puzzles

Hayden Horner

When DreamWorks’ visually splendid animated movie, Madagascar, hit South African screens in 2005, it introduced us to some really loveable animals and a catchy tune that had kids and parents across the country singing about how they “like to move it, move it!”

Now, 14 years later, we get to join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the Hippo and those hilarious plotting penguins as they light up the Peoples Theatre stage in a delightfully colourful musical adventure.

Directed by Jill Girard and Keith Smith, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. follows all of our favourite “crack-a-lackin” friends as they escape from New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s island of Madagascar.

“We’re so thrilled to have obtained the rights for [the production]. Everyone loved the movie, the songs and the characters, so here we are with the perfect musical theatre experience, which is 100% family friendly,” said co-director Jill Girard.

She said that with the stage production featuring a hugely talented cast and sing-along favourites such as I Like To Move It, Best Friends and Relax, audiences will be left with no choice but to “move it, move it!”

Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and upbeat musical direction by Dale Scheepers, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR., will provide children and parents with a much-needed dose of enlivening entertainment