13 theater shows to watch on Cape Cod Martha’s Vineyard stages reviews

Reviews

From left, Niev Witnauer and Alyia Vasquez help to tell the story of a whale entanglement for "The Tale of Ibis" at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater.

A whale of a tale

The show: WHAT for Kids! presents “The Tale of Ibis,” written and directed by Jody O’ Neil

What it’s about: A talented young cast uses puppets, cardboard cut-outs, and just a touch of dramatic irony to recreate the inspiring true story of the successful whale-entanglement rescue that played out in Provincetown in 1984.

See it or not: The actors dramatize this harrowing true tale in a fun, accessible way that should appeal to young audiences. Still, the show is a tad short at just under 40 minutes. (Perhaps O’Neil and collaborators could add a scene or extend the early section in which the quirky cast members trade wisecracks before they tell Ibis’s story?)

Highlight of the show: Paige O’ Connor’s hysterically funny performance in not one, but two roles. As Ibis, the eponymous whale who survives an almost fatal encounter with a fishing net, she’s deliciously over the top. As Ocean, the master of ceremonies, she delivers her witty one-liners with aplomb.