It seems almost sacrilegious to fiddle with Saint-Exupery’s “The Little Prince,” but Jeffrey Lunden and Arthur Perlman have created a delightful stage adaptation with whimsical songs inspired by composers such as Bach and Offenbach. Director Betsy Hamilton has successfully risked staging the story in the setting of an old-fashioned European circus, thus giving it a magical sense of wonder.
A beautiful, billowy white big top that resembles a celestial body and simple costumes that seem to come from long ago create a visual poetry similar to that of the book’s delicate illustrations. The circus performers re-enact the adventures of the Little Prince, who leaves his tiny planet and his beloved rose to find the meaning of life. The playfulness and tenderness of the spirited actors make this production soar. “The Little Prince” runs through Dec. 4 at the Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Dr. 312-922-1999.
`MY FATHER’S DRAGON’ AT LIFELINE THEATRE:
“My Father’s Dragon,” a playful adaptation of the 1948 book by Ruth Stiles Gannett, is a fanciful romp through the world of childhood. In the play a young boy tells the story of his dad, who, as a child, dared to rescue a baby dragon that had been captured by ferocious beasts.In his tale, which is acted out on stage, the boy equips his youthful father with ordinary objects such as a hairbrush and bubble gum to fight the wild animals, and the clever set consists of vividly colored parasols, which represent the tropical forest. Warren Jackson plays the role of the father as a child with infectious, childlike glee. The best part is that kids in the audience are encouraged to participate in this exuberant make-believe adventure. “My Father’s Dragon” runs through Jan. 9 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. 773-761-4477.