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The Pied Piper
By Staff Writer
Storybook Theatre presents "The Pied Piper," a World Premiere musical for children and their families, every Saturday now through July 11, 2009.
The new musical version of "The Pied Piper" puts some new twists to the traditional fairy tale. In the village of Hamelin, the citizens are swindled by naughty Mr. Grotsky (he's the villain, but in the gentle storytelling ways of Storybook Theatre, the bad guys are never too scary for the young audience). Grotsky (played by Charlie Mount) has pretended to be the Piper who can rid the town of its infestation of rodents, but all he's done is to take the town folks' money. The real Pied Piper (Paul Denniston) shows up, ready to lead the rats away from the village, but the villagers have no money left to pay him. With the aid of the lovely Abby (a heroine for the little girls in the audience to identify with, played by Laura Marion), the Pied Piper herds the worrisome rodents away. Grotsky, meanwhile, has learned a moral lesson: that being a good friend is more important than the mere acquisition of money. Reforming, he returns his ill-gotten cash to the village and all is well in Hamelin for the happy ending. Barbara Mallory Schwartz rounds out the cast as Abby's Mom and hosts the show.
As with all Storybook Theatre shows, there is lots of audience participation as kids are chosen to come up onto the stage and play the parts of rats or village children as they join in all the fun. There's plenty of adventure, laughs, songs and interactive fun in this new musical show about The Pied Piper
This is the 18th original interactive children's musical presented by Storybook Theatre, and the first to be directed by Elliot Kevin Schwartz, who literally grew up appearing in Storybook Theatre presentations. This is also the Silver Anniversary year for Storybook Theatre, which has been based at Theatre West since 1984.
The Los Angeles Times has called Storybook Theatre "simply the best at what they do," and Los Angeles Magazine calls Storybook "the best in the city for the squirmy set."
Show time is 1 p.m. every Saturday. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for kids. Birthday parties are cheerfully accommodated. Discounts are available for school field trips during the week.
Storybook Theatre is the oldest continuously operating professional non-profit children's theatre company in Los Angeles, founded over two decades ago by Studio City residents Lloyd J. Schwartz and Barbara Mallory Schwartz. The company is dedicated to providing wholesome, non-violent musical family entertainment that can even be enjoyed by very young children (as young as age 3). It often the first introduction to the joys of professional theatre for generations of L.A. kids.
Storybook Theatre is located at Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, in Los Angeles, CA 90068. This is in the immediate vicinity of North Hollywood, Universal City and Studio City. There is free parking in a lot across the street.
Reservations:
(818) 761-2203
www.theatrewest.org