Fairy godmothers are supposed to appear just at the right time to save the day.
But in “Chasing Charming,” running March 31 to April 2, a fairy godmother called on to save Prince Charming uses the wrong spell and conjures up a character who doesn’t have much to say except for repeating his name.
“The character is played by a very funny guy,” said Jeanna Daebelliehn, who is directing the show for the Kirk Players. “He has to really be good at portraying emotions because he says his name so many times and it has to be in so many different ways.”
“Chasing Charming,” which will be performed at 7 p.m. March 31 and April 1 and 2 p.m., April 1 and 2 at Mundelein High School.
“It’s a fun, delightful, light-hearted twist on a fairy tale,” said Daebelliehn. She teaches fifth-grade STEM courses and has directed children’s theater.
“The beauty of the show is there are a lot of different plots and turns that are very comical,” she said. “Both adults and kids will laugh. I think people will be surprised and enjoy the unexpected twists and turns. That’s what makes it so fun and so comical.”
The cast consists of roughly 40 actors with children ages 8-10, some teenagers (playing princesses) and adults, portraying roles such as the fairy godmother, an evil witch and Mama and Papa Bear.
“We have adults and children working together and the adults have become like mentors to the children,” Daebelliehn said.
Kirk Players produces an annual children’s play in spring, and chooses a production that will appeal to young and old. At a recent rehearsal, Daebelliehn she said she was amazed at how well the cast and production crew were working together. “I’m enjoying how the characterizations have been developing so nicely,” she said.
The play includes a narrator who keeps the audience informed and also interacts with the characters in the play. The story begins when Prince Charming gets kidnapped by an evil witch named Hagragard.
While the narrator explains what’s happened, the fairy godmother appears and gives the wrong spell. She tries another spell, calling for a princess to help save Prince Charming. “She gets five different princesses, plus Goldilocks,” Daebelliehn said.
The evil witch isn’t so successful in her endeavors either. When she calls for one minion from her group of followers, they all show up. The minions portrayed by the youngest actors are like Keystone Kops, Daebelliehn said. “They’re like the clowns.”
Daebelliehn said she’s using her choreography skills to teach the minions and a character named Magic some dance steps.
The princesses won’t be dressed up like the stereotypical ones with long gowns, she said. Rapunzel, one of the princesses, for example likes to do martial arts. She’s the inventor of Hair Kwon Do, and that will be reflected in her costume.
The Kirk Players are partnering with some Mundelein High School students in presenting the play. Some high school students are designing the lighting, for example.
Dealing with a huge cast, costumers, set design and production crew may sound daunting, Daebelliehn admitted. “But it takes a village to put on a great production and I’m very blessed that we have so many people involved. Everybody is willing to work together. It is truly a team collaboration. Everybody brings in their expertise.”
The 90-minute long play will be full of colorful costumes and colorful cast members, she said.
“People will be entertained at any age,” Daebelliehn said.
‘Chasing Charming’
When: 7 p.m. March 31 and April 1; 2 p.m. April 1 and 2
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Where: Kirk Players, Mundelein High School, 1350 W. Hawley St.
Tickets: $5-$15, ages 3 and younger free
Information: 847-521-6192; kirkplayers.org
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.