Limelight Theatre Company Debuts Latest Show This Weekend

What happens when a fable doesn't have a moral?

Well, it's just a story then. So when the Fable Factory is without a moral maker, will it have to close down? This burning question will be answered this weekend by the Limelight Theatre Company's new play The Fabulous Fable Factory by Thomas Tierney.

The Fable Factory, run by Mr./Mrs. Aesop has got a problem. It is missing the Moral Maker so they cannot create any fables. The main character (Monroe/Margo) stumbles across the factory and meets Aesop. After chatting for a bit, Aesop offers Monroe/Margo a job, but first they have to explain how the factory works.

Director Cori Veverka double cast the play so every child has a sizable part. One night the main character is played by a boy and called Monroe. The next night it is played by a girl and she is called Margo. Many of the characters are boys one night and girls the next.

Once again the Limelight Theatre Company has created a production that is as much fun to do as it is to see. That is the belief of 9-year-old Alia Syed of Homestead Elementary. The Fabulous Fable Factory is Alia's second play with Limelight. She debuted in Nate the Great.

Alia plays Emma, the 'Emotion Emoter' and Mouse. She also narrates one of the fables. Alia says that factory worker Emma likes her job, but, like everyone else is doomed to idleness until a Moral Maker can be found.

The casting flexibility is one of the things which drew Veverka to the play.

“I had heard of the play years ago. When I was looking for a script I decided to look for this play," she said. "I found I read through it and immediately thought it would be perfect for Limelight.”

She, also liked the way the play educates and entertains.

“That is always a priority when choosing scripts.” she said.

Veverka believes adults will enjoy the play as much as children.

Another plus to this play is it's simple sets and costumes. At Limelight the kids do not just perform, they also work the technical side of theatre. The Fabulous Fable Factory has one simple set and the multitude of animal characters can use simple props and costume pieces. Ears for the bunnies. A nose with whiskers for the mouse. The human factory workers wear regular clothes.

Ben Colwell, a three-year veteran of the Limelight Theatre Company, plays Marvin the Donkey.  

“It's fun to do.” he said. “And I really like working with Cori.”

Marvin and the other Donkey, Marian, are fighting over who gets to eat the oats first. Ben is thirteen and goes to St. Rita's in Aurora.

Not all the stars of the play are on stage. Many kids enjoy working backstage as much or more than working on stage. Ten-year-old Andrew Michaels, who attends Prairie Point Elementary, is working as assistant stage manager during rehearsals and will be operating lights and sounds during the two performances.

“Limelight focuses on process as being as key as performance.” Veverka said.“Every child gets something to do either on stage or off.”

The shows runs Friday or Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Bednarcik Junior High 3025 Heggs Rd, Aurora. Tickets are available at the door for students $5; adults $7.