Right Cross

Crispin brings a darkness to the Dark Ages.

by Mark Cofta

There's a difference between family theater and children's theater. Case in point: People's Light's Crispin: The Cross of Lead.

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Adapted by Russell Davis from Avi's Newbery Medal-winning novel, Crispin takes place in Dark Ages that are truly dark; John Ambrosone bravely lights the play in scary shadows and knife-sharp streaks. Staged dynamically by director Andrew Belser, founder of co-producing company The Gravity Project at Juniata College, Crispin tells the harrowing story on Randy Ward's rough-hewn planks, allowing the actors (in Marla Jurglanis' fascinatingly textured medieval costumes) to create their world. This is a smart, challenging production that, like People's Light's other Family Discovery Series offerings, doesn't talk down (though it does talk back — stay afterward for a discussion with the cast).

In fact, Davis' adaptation is so lean that some elements may be confusing; I was grateful I read the program notes.

Erin Brueggemann plays the title character, who knows himself only as "Asta's Son." His chilling words "When my mother died ... " launch his story. He's orphaned during a time of plague, pestilence and paranoia, and soon declared a "Wolf's Head" — a fugitive who should be slain on sight — for unknown reasons. A kind priest gives him a cross engraved with essential information that Crispin cannot read, and instructs him to flee.

In the forest, the boy meets Bear (the always-charming Christopher Patrick Mullen, here believably imposing), a ragged jester driven by a serious agenda. "You didn't really expect to live without a master?" Bear asks as he drafts Crispin — a lifelong serf who's never heard music, danced or dreamed of anything beyond his miserable station — into service. Suddenly given purpose, Crispin comes alive learning not only to juggle and sing, but to think like a free person.

Suspense builds as Stephen Novelli's evil John Aycliffe closes in, and that's when details muddle: We learn that Crispin's no ordinary orphan, but something larger brews that's not clearly explained (so read that program!).

The dark, sometimes violent story unfolds gracefully, with action staged behind screens creating eerie shadows, punctuated by John Nuhn's intense sound design. All this shouldn't keep family audiences away, however; the best stories contain genuine danger, and the lessons here are well worth the journey.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead

Through Feb. 24People's Light & Theatre Co.39 Conestoga Road, Malvern610-644-3500, peopleslight.org.