With a little hip-hop and a little gospel, some references to Project Runway — “Make it work, make it work” — and eBay, the classic children’s story “The “Emperor’s New Clothes” spins itself on stage Saturday in 2010 fashion.
This modern update, however, doesn’t leave out the story’s timeless life lessons.
For instance, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Or, choices can be hard to make, even for adults.
Sew all that together with a colorful set and gorgeous costumes — think jewel-toned brilliance and an opulent Emperor’s onesie — and Storybook Theater’s first attempt at this classic should be a stylin’ success.
The story plot remains mostly intact with an emperor, a good guy deep down, who has turned vain and silly, always looking for the most beautiful and expensive new clothing.
His loving wife is concerned about her husband. So she concocts a ruse and hires two tricksters who fool the emperor into believing that nothing is something.
So the question remains: Will the emperor wander the kingdom in his underwear, or will everyone, including the audience, tell him the honest truth?
Storybook’s artistic director Lani Brockman said instead of having the children in the audience help out during the show, the adults are asked whether they can see the emperor’s new clothes or not.
“And when we ask the adults, we are asking them basically to either lie or tell the truth in front of their peers,” Brockman said. “Then the kids will be empathetic because they’ll see how hard that is.”
“Emperor’s New Clothes” plays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Snohomish County Public Utility District Auditorium, 2320 California St., Everett.
Tickets are $9. Call 425-827-3123, or 877-827-1100 or go to www.storybooktheater.org.
“Chasing George Washington — A White House Adventure”: Talk about history coming alive.
“Chasing George Washington” is a new musical that follows three students, Dee Dee, Jose and Annie, who are on a field trip to the White House and accidentally knock George Washington out of his portrait and into real life — turning their tour into an unexpected adventure.
As the threesome chase around trying to get Washington back onto the canvas, they encounter other famous White House residents such as Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd; Dolley Madison and Jackie Kennedy.
Reviewers have noted that the story ably mixes an adventuresome story line with new music including hip-hop, disco, ballads and traditional show tunes.
Village Theatre Pied Piper presents the show, co-produced and co-commissioned by the Kennedy Center and the White House Historical Association.
“Chasing George Washington” plays at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., Everett.
Tickets are $12 to $14. Call 425-257-8600 or go to www.villagetheatre.org. Recommended for second- through eighth-graders and their families.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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