Theater review: Old Log's 'Red Riding Hood' is kid-friendly

The Old Log Theater continues its tradition of presenting fairy tales as holiday shows for young audiences. This year's production of "Little Red Riding Hood," seen at a special student matinee, will undoubtedly delight children more than their parents

The adaptation, by Charlotte B. Chorpenning, is a classic. Virtually unknown today, she was one of the founders of the children's theater movement in America in the early 20th century.

Chorpenning, who died in 1955, took her young audiences seriously, raising issues of identity and growing up within the framework of the familiar story. She added a second wolf (grandmother to the familiar antagonist) to add some generational conflict. And she had Red Riding Hood mature from a mischievous child to a young adult capable of outsmarting the Wolf herself, rather than needing to be saved by the woodsman.

Some added bits, like an extended song about the password Red Riding Hood needs to remember when she gets to her grandmother's, padded the brief story unnecessarily. If the results ultimately felt overly long and drawn out, the elementary-school audience was rapt.

That was primarily due to the work of Tom Stolz. He directed and played the Wolf, bringing to both assignments an impeccable comic timing. His inventiveness, especially in his portrayal of the poor, beleaguered Wolf, ensured that the results were unfailingly entertaining.

It's hard to imagine a young audience being less restive. They were completely captivated, delighting in the slapstick comedy, participating fully when called upon and cheering loudly at Red Riding Hood's victory.

It's an indication of the different values in place at the time the play was written that Chorpenning modified the tale to remove even the merest threat of violence.

Natalie Rae Wass made an ideal Red Riding Hood: sweet without being cloying and clearly delineating the character's journey from flighty to clever.

Judith Heneghan, half of the comedy team of Martini and Olive, was the other standout as Grandmother. Her comic contributions were an example of how the production did not talk down to the audience.

At 80 minutes, I would have preferred "Little Red Riding Hood" to be about 15 minutes shorter. But the audience of raucous kids very vocally disagreed.

William Randall Beard is a Minneapolis writer.