Shopper News blog: ‘101 Dalmatians’ is area-on at Knoxville Kids Theater

From Page to Stage: Exploring 101 Dalmatians Through Books and Theatre

The story behind any children's stage production of 101 Dalmatians began on the page. Dodie Smith's novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians, first published in 1956, follows Pongo and Missis, two Dalmatians living in London, as they set out to rescue their stolen puppies from the fur-obsessed Cruella de Vil. The book was later adapted by Disney into an animated film, and that version shaped how most families picture the characters today. Local youth theatres, including community companies such as Knoxville's children's theatre, have often staged versions of the tale because its large cast of puppies gives many young performers a part to play.

For readers here in Pljevlja, the story is a good starting point for comparing a book with its adaptations. Children who have seen a film or a school play often enjoy finding out what changed along the way. In the original novel, for example, the puppies' rescue involves a whole network of dogs across the English countryside passing messages to one another, and several characters differ from the screen versions.

Ideas for families and young readers

• Read the original first, then watch an adaptation. Talk together about which scenes were kept, cut or invented.
• Stage a living-room version. Simple masks, a narrator and a few household props are enough for children to retell the plot in their own words. Acting out a story helps with memory, vocabulary and confidence.
• Explore related themes. Books about dogs, animal care and friendship make natural follow-ups, as do other classic animal adventures.
• Write a new ending. Older children can try rewriting a chapter from Cruella's point of view, which is a playful way to practise perspective in writing.

You can search our catalog for editions of Dodie Smith's novel, picture-book retellings and other stories that have moved from print to stage or screen. Families interested in reading clubs, storytelling sessions or creative activities for children can also see what is currently on offer on our programs page. Theatre and literature have always fed each other, and a good children's book is often the first step towards a lifelong love of both.