AND THEY ALL LIVED WACKILY EVER AFTER.Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic THERE ARE a few strategic pieces of scenery and props on the stage at the NoHo Arts Center, and the cast members of ``Fractured Fairy Tales This is a list of fairy tales, the dates of their earliest known printed version, the author and, if known, the collection of tales in which it was published. It should be noted, however, that not all stories listed below would be categorized as fairy tales by a strict definition of the East'' occasionally throw on a piece of costume for character enhancement. But, really, their transformation into dogs, rats, sun, clouds and deer is accomplished without a lot of technical fanfare. A rat is who an actor says he is. That's what he acts like. And we in the audience - children and adults alike - are inclined to believe him. Some of these tales - most notably the story of ``The Rat and his Wife'' - have a slightly familiar ring from fairy tale fairy tale Simple narrative typically of folk origin dealing with supernatural beings. Fairy tales may be written or told for the amusement of children or may have a more sophisticated narrative containing supernatural or obviously improbable events, scenes, and personages books of old. Writer-director Robert Kuhlman and his six versatile players give the tales - old and older - an inventive spin. Young attention spans are taken into consideration. Nothing plays too deep or too long, and a gong gong, percussion instrument consisting of a disk, usually with upturned edges, 3 ft (91 cm) or more in diameter in the modern orchestra, often made of bronze, and struck with a felt- or leather-covered mallet or drumstick. punctuates the end of each story. It appears the family programming series of the newly installed Open at the Top Productions is off to a ripping good start. A character drags a large sack that opens up to reveal a human being. And, as we learn about ``The First Baby of Asia,'' we're off and running. Men and women routinely cross genders and species - smartly, and never straining for obvious cuteness. Modern colloquialisms don't jar the action even though there's a distinctly modern sassiness to, say, the Deer Spirit enacted by Deb Hiett. The stories themselves are quite delightful. Apparently folklore provides an explanations as to why the dog has four legs instead of three, and why - besides the obvious reason - he chooses to lift one of them. Hiett and fellow cast members Janae Burris, Carlos L. Cortez, Ruffy Landayan, Tim Molfino and Melissa Wong are individually and collectively charming. Given the choice between the talking animals The talking animal or speaking animal term, in general, refers to any form of animal which can speak human languages. This can by itself be interpreted in several manners, as listed in the below sections. of ``Racing Stripes'' and the living creatures of ``Fractured Fairy Tales,'' I'd go for the live rats, deer, et al. in a heartbeat immediately. See also: heartbeat . Evan Henerson, (818) 713-3651 evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com FRACTURED FAIRY TALES FROM THE EAST - Three and one half stars Where: NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Magnolia, city, United States Magnolia (măgnō`lyə), city (1990 pop. 11,151), seat of Columbia co., SW Ark.; inc. 1855. Its oil industry has been important since 1938. Blvd., North Hollywood. When: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday; through Feb. 27. Tickets: $10. Call (818) 508-7101. In a nutshell nut·shell n. The shell enclosing the meat of a nut. Idiom: in a nutshell In a few words; concisely: Just give me the facts in a nutshell. Adv. 1. : The quality is anything but ``fractured.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Carlos Cortez Carlos Cortez (August 13, 1923 – January 19, 2005) was a poet, graphic artist, photographer, muralist and political activist, active for six decades in the Industrial Workers of the World. , left, Ruffy Landayan and Tim Molfino in ``Fractured Fairy Tales From the East.'' |
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