Child's Play

People's Light & Theatre Co. lights up kid's lit

by Mark Cofta

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Many people dismiss the word "family" as meaning simplistic, dull and treacly — especially referring to theater. (Their prejudice might be justified regarding film and TV, another discussion entirely.)

People's Light & Theatre Co. strains mightily against such ignorance with its Family Discovery Series, a marvelous program infused with new life by their NEA-funded Adaptation Project, which brings acclaimed children's literature to the stage.

Audrey Couloumbis' Newbery Award-winning novel makes a delightful play for audiences of all ages in artistic director Abigail Adams' professional production. I've seen thousands of "adult" plays without laughing or crying as much as I did during Getting Near to Baby.

Y York's bright, tight adaptation features five children in a cast of eight, but very much concerns the adults in the play. Set in 1967, this charming story centers on uptight Patty (Mary Elizabeth Scallen), who takes in her nieces after a family tragedy. Like opposing angels on her shoulders, patient husband Hob (Christopher Patrick Mullen) and society snob Lucy (Susan McKey) pull at Patty, who discovers she doesn't know how to be a parent.

Real kids play the kids (a rare occurrence, and another excuse for the narrow-minded to shun this play) — and they're a revelation. Adams has a gift for directing children playing genuine, complicated characters. Maggie Fitzgerald shines as mute (but wonderfully expressive) Little Sister; Claire Inie-Richards is protective sibling Willa Jo; Katie Johantgen and Nathaniel Brastow are the scruffy neighbors from the colorful Fingers family; and Meg Rose plays prissy Cynthia, Lucy's star pupil.

Getting Near to Baby reveals adult behavior's absurdity through the children's innocent, commonsense perspective. When Patty wails that the girls are giving her "half a heart attack," Little Sister solemnly asks (through pantomime to Willa Jo), "How did you lose half your heart?"

As life's tragedies are revealed, York's lovably flawed characters learn and grow in ways transcending the triteness that prejudiced people expect.

Labels be damned, great theater deserves an audience — children, family and all.

(m_cofta@citypaper.net)

Getting Near to Baby Through April 20, People's Light & Theatre Co., 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, 610-644-3500, peopleslight.org