Puppet Show - March 3rd - May 12th - Sat/Sun only

Review of Little Red Riding Hood at Classika Theatre by Julieann Hamilton

Little Red Riding Hood, playing at Classika Theatre, is an entertaining and educational puppet show. The puppets are soft hand styled instruments resembling playful stuffed animals. The actors are visible on stage and play multiple characters.

The story follows the classic fairytale where Red Riding Hood’s mother tells her not to walk by herself to her Grammy’s house and not to talk to strangers. Little Red does not recognize her own vulnerability in the world and defies her mother’s rules by going the journey to Granny’s house on her own. Further, she stops to talk to a “doggy” that is really the Big Bad Wolf in disguise.

Each character represents humanity and interrelationships complete with self-interests, good and bad intentions, and unavoidable personality flaws. The Fox is deceitful and two-faced. He pretends to be against the Big Bad Wolf when he is among the other animals, but is truly seduced and awed by the power of the Wolf and in his accomplice.

The Bear has the benefit of an intimidating stature and is friendly, but interested only in satisfying his own needs for sustenance and personal protection. The Rabbit lacks confidence and exposes all her vulnerabilities and fears at once. She appears to be helpless and weak but, because she possesses the right instincts, is able to save Little Red and her Grandmother by reporting accurate information to the Woodsman. The Wolf is evil and uses every skill he knows to capture Little Red and her Grandmother.

By watching Bear, Rabbit, Fox, Little Red and Wolf, our children see the nuances of social interaction where motivations and desires can be conflicting among friends. They see that not all individuals can be trusted and that they are sometimes not even whom they pretend to be. These are difficult lessons to teach and grasp as it asks us to give up some of our innocence.

The show is a bit scary, but appropriate for the recommended audiences of 3 and up. The show runs from March 3 to May 12, 2007 on Saturdays and Sundays at noon. Tickets cost $12 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 703.824.6200 or online. ($2 surcharge added if purchased online.)

Classika Theatre is located at 4041 S. 28th Street, Arlington, VA 22206. For information: www.classika.org or 703.824.6200.