The Musical Theatre Machine, which produced its first non-musical earlier this season, now has branched out in yet another direction. The company has staged a charming production of its first children's musical, "Aladdin," which is playing a two-weekend run at the Merrick Barn on the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University.
Created by Jim Eiler and Jeanne Bargy as a television special in the 1970s, this "Aladdin" is as simple as the 1992 Disney animation is slick. But the direction and choreography by Todd Pearthree make that simplicity a virtue.
Eiler's script includes the character of a Stage Manager (Tom Wyatt), who narrates the story and also plays roles ranging from Aladdin's father to an executioner to a tree (yes, a tree). At the start of the show, he reminds us that the action takes place in China, and Pearthree's staging capitalizes on that setting by using various Far Eastern theater techniques.
The main piece of scenery is a hinged painted screen; a garden is represented by a blossoming branch held aloft by the Stage Manager; a ladder serves multiple purposes, changing from a mountain in one scene to a throne in another; and when the Genie and Aladdin go flying, the sky is suggested by long blue pieces of fabric, raised and lowered by actors kneeling on opposite sides of the stage. My favorite effect, however, comes when the Stage Manager announces, "Many moons go by," and the Genie --es across the stage holding a stick with silver moons dangling from it.
Granted, some of this staging owes more to Japan's Kabuki theater than to China, but it's lovely nonetheless. It forms a subtle counterpoint to the exuberant perform ances of the cast, particularly Richard W. Lloyd as happy-go-lucky Aladdin and Chuck Graham as the comically goofy Genie. ("What's the matter, didn't you see the movie?" the Genie asks when Aladdin doesn't know what a genie is.) The bad guys -- Edward J. Peters as the evil Magician and Ron Bopst as the fierce Emperor of China -- are also played for broad effect.
The music and lyrics are pretty lackluster. The score's cleverest touch comes from a few reprises in which songs are given opposite meanings. The singing, however, is up to the Musical Theatre Machine's usual high standard, and Nancy Parrish Asendorf is especially distinguished as Aladdin's beloved Princess.
There's lots of competition among children's shows at this time of year, but "Aladdin" is one of the brighter, more refreshing efforts. It even ends with a moral clearing up any misconceptions about Aladdin's motives (he's motivated by love, not greed). And, with a running time of just under an hour, the show is not only geared to the attention span of children, but it leaves plenty of time to visit Santa at the mall.
'ALADDIN'
Where: Musical Theatre Machine at Merrick Barn, Johns Hopkins University
When: 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. todayand Dec. 17; 2 p.m. tomorrow and Dec. 18
Tickets: $8
Call: (410) 825-2554