To paraphrase a Neil Diamond song: Pack up your babies and grab the old ladies and everyone go…go to Playcrafters Barn Theatre’s production of The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Tales.
The play is a hilarious stage adaptation of the classic 1992 Caldecott Honor children's book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Adapted for the stage by playwright John Glore, the play deconstructs and humorously flips classic fairy tales on their head, featuring fractured stories like Cinderumplestiltskin, The Really Ugly Duck, and the titular Stinky Cheese Man.
Lest you think this work will only amuse the kiddos, rest assured adults will get – and did get at the performance I attended – a kick out of these fragmented fairy tales. Director Jennifer Hoeper pulled out all the stops for this adorable, silly supersonic romp through the beloved stories of our youth.
Hoeper wrangles a herd of 25 actors, most of whom are children, so getting this show on the boards is a monumental achievement. The script breaks the fourth wall in several places and even brings in a couple of kids from the audience. So, if you have any budding thespians at your house, bring them, set them in the front rows, and cross your fingers they get nabbed by Foxy Loxy. One of the little gals I saw hammed it up big time.
I can’t begin to individually recognize everyone from the cast, but there were some special stand-outs. Most notably was Whitney Brown as Jack (of Jack and the Beanstalk fame), as the narrator. She brought in a great performance and this little gal can project – better than a few of the adults in the cast. This was Whitney’s second foray onto Playcrafters stage, the first being last year’s Miss Nelson is Missing. Other child alums from “Miss Nelson” include Shalom Moore as the Surgeon General, Maisie Jacobsen as Foxy Loxy, Jo Forgie as the Prince and Rumpelstiltskin, and Lorelei Hinrichs as Cow. I’m happy to say all four of these young ladies have upped their game.
Stand out adults were Cindy Ramos as Stepmother and Pablo Ramos was an absolute riot as the Giant.
Next weekend is Fathers’ Day and I can’t think of a better Fathers’ Day gift than clocking in some quality time with dear old Dad at the theatre.
The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Tales continues at Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 - 35th Avenue in Moline, Friday and Saturday June 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 21 at 3:00 p.m.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg.