If you have a choice on this (and you might not), try to be a 4-year-old. That works well for Kasia, who visited during the Thanksgiving vacation.
Kasia liked many things, including the Meridian Mall play area and the MAC swimming pool. But let's focus on two she highly approved of -- the movie "Bolt" and the family musical "Jack and the Beanstalk"; following this is a separate blog on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
-- "Bolt" may be the world's first animated, existential movie. Borrowing a bit from "The Truman Show," it has a dog who doesn't realize he's being filmed. He thinks he really does have superpowers; once he's out in the real world, he needs an attitude adjustment. It took Kasia and I a while to get into the concept. Once we did, however, it was a fine romp; it mixed dabs of drama, humor (hey, hamsters inside balls are inherently funny) and action.
-- The first half of Riverwalk Theatre's "Jack and the Beanstalk" is great fun. It is in the second half, however, that the show becomes a total delight.
That's when the giant (Edrick Haleen) has his solo, a booming testimony to the fact that the biggest get whatever they want. At various points, it's sort of been the theme song of British, American and Soviet leaders.
It's also when the silver harp (Emily McKay) sings: "I get in a dither when he calls me a zither."
Since this show has dialog and lyrics by Stan Gilll, it overflows with odd rhymes, cheap puns, grown-up references and a kid-friendly chase scene. Kasia and I both enjoyed it immensely.
Lee Helder has beautifully directed a cast led by Laura Johnson, a 24-year-old state employee playing Jack, age 10. Mary K. Hodges-Nees crafted the dandy harp and goose costumes. And it was a pleasure to learn that McKay (as the semi-bitter harp) is the daughter of Tricia Morscheck McKay. Her mom, once a superb teen actress, is on the stage crew, her first stop at Riverwalk (and its ancestor Okemos Barn) in 19 years.
The show continues for two more weekends, with tickets at 482-5700 or www.riverwalktheatre.com. You'll like it.
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