An intergenerational family effort brings A.A. Milne's classic tales to the Lower Cape stage.
At the Cape Rep Theatre, a new theatrical endeavor is taking shape through a deeply personal family collaboration. Recognized as one of the Lower Cape's most respected and creative artistic institutions, Cape Rep is mounting an original musical titled "The 100 Aker Wood," drawing its inspiration directly from A.A. Milne's enduring "Winnie-the-Pooh" stories.
The production is defined by the collaborative artistry of the Devine family, whose creative presence serves as a consistent through-line across many of Cape Rep's productions. For this staging, Cape Rep’s Associate Artistic Director Maura “Mo” Hanlon and playwright Art Devine have united their artistic talents with their three sons: Paddo Devine, Macklin Devine, and Seamus Devine. Together, the family members have joined forces to build an original musical work rooted in these timeless literary roots.
Rather than departing from the heart of the source material, the musical explores classic episodes that have long been deeply ingrained in childhood understanding. By revisiting these foundational stories, the production focuses on bringing the familiar dynamics, relationships, and adventures of Milne’s characters to life on the regional stage. The Devines' collective involvement marks an inventive effort where multiple generations contribute directly to shaping the adaptation.
For Cape Rep Theatre, mounting "The 100 Aker Wood" highlights the venue’s ongoing commitment to originating new, imaginative work from within its core creative community. By drawing on the shared artistic shorthand and creative contributions of Hanlon, Art Devine, and their sons, the production demonstrates the vitality of regional theatre spaces as incubators for new musical theatre. Working in the Lower Cape, the family's joint effort translates iconic childhood literature into a fresh, stage-bound experience crafted through genuine grassroots collaboration.
This production demonstrates how regional theatre artists and creative families can independently adapt iconic literary material into original musical works. It highlights the power of close-knit artistic communities to generate meaningful new performance work outside commercial hubs.
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