Westport Country Playhouse Presents a New Twist on Classic Fairytales at Family Festivities Show, 1/29; 2/12; 3/18; 4/1

 

Westport Country Playhouse kicks off its 2012 Family Festivities Series with a new twist on classic fairytales, "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales," on Sunday, January 29, 1 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $18. Birthday party rental facilities may be scheduled in advance. Pre-show children's activities begin one hour before each performance.

In "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales," Jack must use his wits to save himself from the terrible Giant, but a host of familiar fairytale characters keep messing up his plans---and then there's that annoying Stinky Cheese Man! Very different from the traditional fairy tale, characters slide in and out of familiar stories. Cinderella rebuffs Rumpelstiltskin, and Goldilocks meets the Three Elephants. Nothing is quite the same as the audience remembers it. Recommended for ages 4 to 10, the show is produced by the Griffin Theatre Company, based on the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith.

The Family Festivities Series, part of "Winter at The Playhouse," will continue with "Pinkalicious: The Musical," on Sunday, February 12, 1 and 4 p.m. Pinkalicious can't stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor's office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe---a dream come true for this pink-loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of her predicament. Recommended for ages 4 to 8, the show is produced by the Vital Theatre.

"The Ugly Duckling" and "The Tortoise and the Hare" will be presented on Sunday, March 18, 1 and 4 p.m. Recommended for age 6 and up, the show is produced by CORBiAN/Lightwire Theater. In "The Ugly Duckling," of the five eggs in Mother Duck's nest, one is the largest and last to hatch. Bigger and paler than the others, this last hatchling is treated as an outsider by Mother Duck and her ducklings. Knowing only rejection, this Ugly Duckling goes out into the wild alone, where he sees a wily cat creeping in the direction of Mother Duck's nest. The Ugly Duckling follows and watches as one lagging duckling is captured and taken back to the cat's lair. Will the Ugly Duckling save the day and be a true hero, or will he remain an outcast?

The story of "The Tortoise and the Hare" tells of the Tortoise, ridiculed by the Hare, challenging him to a race. They set off and the Hare takes a commanding lead right away. Thinking he will win easily, the Hare allows himself to be distracted with many modern day activities: texting, video games and the paparazzi. The Tortoise continues to trudge along at his methodical pace. Will the swifter creature win or the one with discipline and fortitude?

"Nearly Lear," on April 1, 1 and 4 p.m., uses exuberant storytelling, music and film to retell Shakespeare's story of "King Lear" as seen through the eyes of the King's endearing goofball clown, Norris, who, in good Shakespearean tradition, is actually Noreen disguised as a boy. Mischievous, funny and tender, the production is a vaudevillian take on a classic play that will entrance both lovers of Shakespeare as well as newcomers to the Bard. Recommended for ages 9 and up, "Nearly Lear" is by Susanna Hamnett.

Family Festivities Corporate Sponsors are First Niagara/Pierson & Smith. Family Festivities Sponsors are Meredith and David Bukzin.

Everyone in the audience requires a ticket. For more information or tickets, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets are available online 24/7 at www.westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to The Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), view Playhouse videos on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse) or get an insider's peek on The Playhouse Blog (www.theplayhouseblog.org).

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