"Jack and the Beanstalk" Delights at Family Stages

Family Stages is a wonderful local organization that puts on children’s theatre with a twist.  Founded by husband and wife team, Elise and Steve Seyfried, performances in our area are held in Trappe and Oreland.  They have a plethora of shows that they bring to local schools, senior centers, and libraries.  Schools can also come to them on field trips.  Their creative dramatics programs allow children to experience all aspects of the theatre.  Kids can sign up for a one-day production, where read-through, rehearsal, and the performance are done all on the same day. Family Stages also does a popular three-day theatre camp over holiday break.

I attended Sunday’s 2 p.m. performance of “Jack and the Beanstalk”.  Their Monday morning at 10 a.m. show is usually popular with school groups.  Writer Steve Seyfried designed a script that keeps the most popular elements of the tale, yet makes it funny for both kids and parents alike.  The dialogue is smart with inside jokes for the adults. Only two people are in this production; Ray Reese, who plays both Jack and the Ogre, and Steve Seyfried himself, who plays all the supporting characters. Costumes and props are kept simple, with almost-lightning quick changes. Imagination is celebrated. As it says on the program, “With minimal props and costumes, our productions emphasize the dynamic, joyful relationship of actor, script, and audience.”

Things have changed in Pleasant Village. People have moved away since the Ogre built his castle in the clouds. However, this Ogre is not the “giant” we know from the story. His magic harp will only play Tom Jones’s “What’s New, Pussycat?”.  Jack’s grandpa yells into the clouds to turn the music down. Jack is the jokester of the bunch. Throughout the show, kids were laughing hysterically and yelling things out to the actors. “Ew…that’s gross!” was yelled out when one little boy saw the Ogre’s breakfast. Kids were eager to tell Jack not to do it when he was going to take the seeds in exchange for the cow.  When Jack needs something to climb to tell the Ogre to turn down his music, the kids yelled out “Climb the beanstalk!”  Seyfried knows that kids love to feel smarter than the characters.

The ending is simply adorable. The story usually ends rather violently, but Jack’s Grandpa says that he wants to have a talk with the Ogre about his “attitude problem.”  Lessons can even be learned here. 

I strongly recommend visiting Family Stages’ website to get their schedule and more information (www.duetpros.com).  Their shows in Trappe take place at the Augustus Lutheran Church, 717 West Main Street.  They can be reached at 215-886-9341 or familystages@gmail.com.   Their next show is “The Holiday Goose”, to be performed on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m.  Contact them for reservations.