Lily Emerson, Leah Casey, Sarah Fornace and Anney Fresh in Manual Cinema’s production of "Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster" at Chicago Children's Theatre. (Rebecca J. Michelson / HANDOUT)

Making friends can be scary, especially if you’re one of the biggest scaredy-cats in the whole world. Sometimes it takes the help of some adorable, fluffy monsters to come out of your shell. Monsters Leonardo and Frankenthaler team up to do just that for their human friends, Sam and Kerry, in Manual Cinema’s “Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster,” now playing at Chicago Children’s Theatre. The multimedia production, which makes its Chicago premiere after playing in New York City and Edinburgh, Scotland, blends puppetry, cinematic techniques and original music to tell this sweet, quirky story.

If you’ve never been to a Manual Cinema show (this was my first), watching the puppeteers work is as fascinating as the polished final product on screen. The stage is packed with equipment and props including live feed cameras, overhead projectors, backlit screens and various puppets: 2D illustrated cutouts, shadow puppets and hand puppets. The puppeteers create a film in real-time by manipulating the puppets — alongside actors in human roles — in front of cameras that project onto a screen in one corner of the stage.

For those who grew up with Pixar movies, the show’s theme of monster-human friendship will evoke fond memories of “Monsters, Inc.” However, “Leonardo” is based on the work of author and illustrator Mo Willems, known for beloved children’s books such as “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” The production is directed by Sarah Fornace, co-director of Manual Cinema, and is adapted by Fornace and Drew Dir.

Sarah Fornace, Leah Casey and Anney Fresh in Manual Cinema’s production of "Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster" at Chicago Children's Theatre. (Rebecca J. Michelson / HANDOUT)

The story begins when Leonardo (Lindsey Noel Whiting), who has always struggled to scare any children, takes a close look in the mirror and admits that he is simply not good at being a monster. His horns are too small, his teeth decidedly non-fanglike and his fuzzy green hair too cute.

Leonardo embarks on a mission to find the world’s “scarediest” kid and “scare the tuna salad” out of them. First, he needs to do some research in the library, which he describes as “a store where they give you knowledge for free.” Cue an entire song devoted to the wonders of public libraries, to this bibliophile’s delight. The score has a whimsical, electronica sound, with music and lyrics by Ben Kauffman and Kyle Vegter. Backed by synthesizers and percussion, Lily Emerson performs acoustic guitar and vocals onstage; she also narrates and voices the characters.

The monster finds his new target when a search of the library’s “Scaredy Cat Electronic Database” reveals the highest-ranking kid to be a boy named Sam (Sarah Fornace and Julia Miller alternate the role). However, when he discovers Sam crying in bed, Leonardo decides to turn his energies toward being a wonderful friend instead of a scary monster. Eventually, the newfound friends come across a pair with the same story: an ever-anxious young human, Kerry (Leah Casey alternating with Shay Turnage), and a kindly monster, Frankenthaler (Emerson). When they realize the kids are more scared of each other than of the monsters, Leonardo and Frankenthaler conspire to help the two form their first human friendship.

Leah Casey, Sarah Fornace, Lily Emerson and Anney Fresh in Manual Cinema’s production of "Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster" at Chicago Children's Theatre. (Rebecca J. Michelson / HANDOUT)

Here’s where this story might choke up the adults in the room. Behind the humor of Sam and Kerry’s over-the-top reactions to the smallest things, it’s clear they are deeply anxious, lonely children. When they first meet their respective monsters, Sam and Kerry each enumerate their many grievances in their own version of a song called “Why Am I Crying?” While Emerson performs these songs in a cutesy, pouty tone with the nasal inflection of a stuffed-up kid, the lyrics go to some pretty dark places. For example, Kerry recalls hiding in her school’s bathroom and missing snack time after classmates mocked her outfit.

Considering how the mental health struggles of children have been exacerbated by the pandemic, it’s especially poignant when Sam and Kerry bond with each other. The beauty of the story is that these two misfits find friendship without having to change who they are and without being shamed for their anxieties. As one lyric puts it, “It can be scary to make a friend, but if you try, you might just find you’re scared of similar things.”

This message of friendship and acceptance comes at the perfect time for young people as they navigate the social complexities of a new school year. At the performance I attended, the house was packed despite heavy rainfall and flooding that morning, and Manual Cinema’s captivating visual style and kid-friendly score kept the youngsters engaged throughout. A promising start for a show that tackles important and serious themes with humor, whimsy and some darn cute puppets.

Review: “Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster” (3.5 stars)

Where: Chicago Children’s Theatre, 100 S. Racine Avenue

Tickets: $25-$36 at chicagochildrenstheatre.org or 312-374-8835