By Dominique Wald
dwald@dnews.com
PULLMAN — “Time is a gift, given to you, given to give you the time you need, the time you need to have the time of your life.”
That’s the moral of the “Phantom Tollbooth,” originally written by Norton Juster in 1961. In 1977, it was adapted as a play. On Friday, Pullman Civic Theatre’s production opens.
The play follows Milo, a young boy who is bored by the world and believes every activity is a waste of time. He arrives home from school one day to find a package in his bedroom containing a miniature tollbooth and a map of “the Land of Wisdom.” He embarks on a mystical journey that changes his attitude toward learning and the essence of time.
Bryson Armstrong, 14, an incoming eighth-grader at St. Mary’s School in Moscow, plays Milo. He said he and his character share several similarities, including a curiosity that sends them exploring.
His favorite part about playing Milo are the changes Milo experiences throughout the course of the play.
Armstrong said audience members will enjoy the clever wordplay the production has to offer and looks forward to their reactions.
“This play is weird, but in a good way,” Armstrong said. “I just hope I don’t forget my lines.”
If You Go What: The Phantom Tollbooth When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays on July 10-12, 16-19 Where: Pullman Civic Theatre, 1220 N.W. Nye St., Pullman Cost: $10-$15. Buy tickets at Dissmore’s IGA and Neill’s Flowers and Gifts, both in Pullman, or online at www.pullmancivictheatre.org.
