Mister Rabbit's Circus - until April 17, 2016 at the McCord Museum

The McCord Museum presents the 6th Edition of the Toys Exhibition

Mister Rabbit’s Circus

The exhibition is specially designed for children aged 3 to 9.

The Museum has partnered for the event with the publisher Les 400 coups and the successful children’s book series Monsieur Lapin, written by Pascal Hérault and illustrated by Geneviève Després. Parents and children will explore the circus and discover toys from the Museum’s collection in a delightful setting that is entertaining for the whole family.

Welcome to Mr. Rabbit’s Circus!
It’s the day of the big show! Mister Rabbit, his fiancée Suzy and many of his circus artist friends have prepared some breathtaking acts and are now ready to perform them in public. Just as the show is about to begin, panic erupts: Mister Rabbit has lost his trumpet, the commissioner Mastiff can’t find his magician’s hat and Suzy is searching for her little tightrope umbrella. But that’s not all! Mister Potamu’s beautiful polka dot tie has been stolen, the Countess of Tesse’s juggling balls have disappeared and Rhino the boxer can’t find his hoop. No one can perform their act without these accessories. Mister Lapin decides to conduct an investigation to find the missing objects and unmask the thief.

Armed with a pencil and a leaflet, the children are invited to sharpen their powers of observation and join Mister Rabbit in solving the mystery. They embark on an entertaining quest with clues along the route and explore three exhibition zones: the funfair, the circus tent and the backstage area to find the missing accessories and, above all, nab the culprit!

Coney Island Roller Coaster
Made by Göso
Gift of Louise Hurtubise Bousquet, ©Musée McCord Museum

“We want the children and parents to have a playful stimulating experience. With its dazzling set design, Mister Rabbit’s Circus invites them to take part in an adventure and encourages them to marvel, look, discover and explore while having fun,” says Suzanne Sauvage, President and Chief Executive Officer of the McCord Museum.

While the children are investigating, they will have a chance to see more than 200 items from the McCord Museum’s toy and decorative arts collection, several of them on display in public for the first time. Among them are fortune-telling deck (1919), animals and characters from the Humpty Dumpty circus (around 1920), a mechanical toy inspired by the roller coaster in Coney Island, New York (1945-1949) and the clown puppet Clarabell (around 1950). Further information about the toys is provided with each display.

The circus tent also includes beautiful photographs from the Notman Photographic Archives that recall moments in the history of the circus in Montreal. A reading area, a space dedicated to costumes and games, has been added to the route.
Please note that admission is always free for children 12 and under.

For more information, including opening hours and the full calendar of activities: www.mccord-museum.qc.ca

Clarabell Puppet
Designed by Raye Copelan, made by Peter Puppet Playthings Inc.
Gift of Susan-Jane Lustgarten, ©Musée McCord Museum

Activities Related to the Exhibition:

Sunday Workshop’s
Until April 17, 2016, Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
History puts on its Sunday best for storybooks! Families are invited to learn how to make fanzines, handmade magazines inspired by the exhibition Mister Rabbit’s Circus.

Story Hour
Until April 17, 2016, Saturdays and Sundays, at 11 a.m. (in French) and 2 p.m. (in English) In conjunction with Mister Rabbit’s Circus, young and old are invited to give free rein to their imaginations and hear more about the adventures of the long-eared celebrity.

The Adventure at the Museum
At all times
Discover the Museum with the help of a free backpack containing everything you need to embark on two treasure hunts. The first one follows the footsteps of Thomas through the exhibition Wearing our Identity –The First Peoples Collection, and the second draws you into the world of Mr. Rabbit’s Circus. Inside the backpack, you’ll find a puzzle linked to the Kent Monkman work Welcome to the Studio: An Allegory for Artistic Reflection and Transformation, which is part of the permanent exhibition Montreal –Points of View. Young visitors will have fun recreating the photography that inspired the artist’s work.

A Weekend for Grandparents and Grandchildren
Saturday and Sunday, February 6 and 7, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Grandparents and their grandchildren are invited to come to the Museum free of charge.