When you see adults attending a kids’ show without a child in tow, you have to figure they are friends of the cast. But when those adults are genuinely applauding and laughing along with the kids in the audience, you know this is not your standard kids’ fare.
Such is the new Striking Viking Story Pirates show, Cookie To All Of Us, and Other Stories — a series of musical skits cleverly based on short stories written by elementary school children. The kids write about ordinary and not so ordinary events — the first time a child gets to go to a movie without his parents, a new sibling who usurps the firstborn’s status. Other stories include a teacher who is really an alien and eats through his ear (with great, squishy sound effects), and a donut machine that comes alive. Many have an absurd premise, and not much of a resolution, but are enjoyable nonetheless; in “The Day My Head Got Stuck in a Barstool”, a boy follows his dog’s lead, getting stuck, eating dog food and drinking from the toilet. Kids find this hilarious.
Each show is about an hour long, with 10 or so skits; the content varies from time to time so that kids can return to a fairly new show. Of course most kids also like to see things over and over, too. With short scenes and fast pacing, the show moves quickly and is suitable for toddlers on up; the upper age limit is about 6th grade, the oldest of the child authors.
One very clever song used a story about raining fish and set it to The Weather Girls’ 1980s hit, “It’s Raining Men”. The singers who belted out this number demonstrated very strong voices.
In fact, the entire cast is excellent, with great comic timing, physical humor and high quality singing. Men play women, women play men, everyone plays kids and animals.
The Striking Viking Story Pirates, which grew out of an Illinois children’s theater group, was founded last year and solicited stories nationally. The actual handwritten stories in each show are included in the program, adding a cute homespun touch. The Pirates (who, to my daughter’s chagrin, are neither Vikings nor real pirates) will soon start offering story workshops for children.
Info:
Where: Arthur Seelen Theater in the Drama Bookshop, 250 West 40th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues.
When: Saturdays at noon and 3pm, Tuesdays at 7pm
How much: $20 adults, $15 children.
For more info: (212) 868-4444; www.storypirates.com
