`RUMPLESTILTSKIN' (PLAY REVIEW)

Director/designer Dennis C. Seyer's production of "Rumpelstiltskin" creates its own magical world, a dark green place made of rocks and flowers and lightning bolts. It's possible to travel great distances across this world simply by reciting a poem, and a rascally little boy with a funny name comes and goes in puffs of smoke.

The play, a Don Garner adaptation of the children's fairy tale (see related story), is being presented to preschool and elementary students throughout this week by the University Theatre. Performances for the general public will be given Friday night and Saturday morning.

In this "Rumpelstiltskin," the devilish gnome is a cross little boy who has been banished to "a ledge at the edge of the world" and whose quest is to find himself a friend.

Terry Vallelunga plays the rascally Rumpelstiltskin with ebullience, rolling about the stage, throwing tantrums and causing mischief with his sorcery. Susan Baer is just right as Rumpelstiltskin's guardian Ortrude, the only person who can make him mind.

On the more earthly plain lives Isolde (Danna Dockery), a miller's daughter whose greatly exaggerated ability to spin straw into gold wins her an invitation to marry Prince Tristan (Steve Ruppel). Both Dockery and Ruppel do fine work.

Don Marler and Sharon Anderson are the source of much of the production's humor as Isolde's social-climbing parents, Hermann and Hilde. Trevor Fisher is imperially greedy as King Fafner.

Also in this strong cast are Shawn Seabaugh as the gatekeeper Torvald, Kathryn Waterhout as Princess Brunnhilde and Jen Maine as the nurse Flosshilde.

Garner's script is witty. "We don't want to be banished. What would the neighbors say?" asks Isolde's mother, Hilde. "If I lose my temper I might never find it again," Rumplestiltskin wails.

The script also incorporates rhymes and repeated phrases that hang on the ear and involves the audience by having the actors and actresses ask them unrhetorical questions.

There are also near-campy touches, such as the harp music that erupts when Isolde and Tristan first meet.

Especially entertaining are the clowns Polly and Penny Patches (Jennifer Bush and Laura Wehking, respectively), who talk to the audience between scenes and review the action just in case everyone wasn't paying complete attention.

The assistant director is Jessica Wilson.

Don't worry, Rumpelstiltskin gets his just desserts in the end.

`Rumpelstiltskin'

When: 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday

Where: Rose Theatre

Admission: $2