BWW Reviews: LYLE THE CROCODILE Delivers Great Fun for Kids and Former Kids

LYLE THE CROCODILE, which opened on November 23rd at the Imagination Stage, in Bethesda, Maryland, is a children's show geared for ages four through twelve, but the parents won't find themselves fidgeting or looking at their watches. The kids will enjoy the slapstick comedy and the younger characters' revulsion at the blossoming romance between two stick-in-the-mud older neighbors. The adults will admire the clever set by scenic designer A.J. Guban (lights interspersed with line drawings of skyscrapers and an interior on wheels turned by hand to alternate with a street scene), the color-coordinated costumes by Frank Labovitz, and the humor likely to fly right over the kids' heads (including a movers' box labeled "spices and automotive" and a cologne called "I'm home early"). All ages will find themselves moving in rhythm to the bouncy music (by Richard Gray) and marvelling at the brilliant choreography by Kurt Boehm, who also plays the role of Lyle.

LYLE THE CROCODILE is based on the beloved children's book series by the late Bernard Waber, who died in May 2013 at the age of 91. The musical, adapted for the stage by Kevin Kling, is based on the first two books, The House on East 88th Street and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.

The Primms, played by Jobari Parker-Namdar, Ashley Foughty, and David Landstrom, are a typical family of the 1950's (except for their multicultural casting), and their name describes them perfectly: prim. When they move into a New York brownstone, they are shocked to find a crocodile in their bathtub, drying himself after his bath. Hector P. Valenti (played by Matthew Schleigh) can no longer travel the world with the croc, whose name is Lyle, and asks the Primms to keep him. Lyle endears himself by baking hors d'oevres, folding towels, and sweeping the steps. Nancy Nitpicker (Brynn Tucker), a member of the East 88th Street welcoming committee, is at first horrified to find a crocodile living with the new neighbors and wants to send him to New Jersey, but Lyle's dancing wins her over.

Eventually, another neighbor, Mr. Grumps (Michael John Casey), convinced that Lyle is threatening his cat, succeeds in getting Lyle sent off to the zoo on a trumped-up charge. However, Lyle's friends succeed in breaking him out, and not a moment too soon - a fire has engulfed Mr. Grumps' house, and it is Lyle who saves Mr. Grumps' cat.

LYLE THE CROCODILE succeeds on many levels, among them as a feel-good children's story, a visual spectacle, a paean to individuality, a rebuttal to prejudice, and a sophisticated satire loaded with groaner puns. It is impossible to miss the jail symbolism during Lyle's zoo captivity,complete with bullying reptiles who share Lyle's cage and shake him down for food. One of Lyle's human friends asks rhetorically, "How can we call ourselves civilized when we lock crocodiles away like people?" After a police officer instructs his partner to read Lyle his rights, the second officer replies, "It's a croc." The first answers, "I know, but it's the law." (This is, of course, one of the groaners).

Director Kathryn Chase Bryer deserves kudos for ensuring that what could have been cringe-worthy, over-the-top material instead results in endearing zaniness. Ms. Bryer has help from an excellent ensemble cast, anchored by Kurt Boehm. Mr. Boehm does not have a single word of dialogue as Lyle the crocodile, but his facial expressions and exuberant tap dances steal the show. His whimsical costume - a friendly croc face worn as a hat and a green and white plaid suit, with an impressively engineered tail attached to the jacket - emphasize the show's theme, that Lyle the Crocodile is as human as the people around him.

My only complaint is that zany material requires a quick delivery, but the first few minutes of dialogue seemed labored. After that, when the actors found their groove, everything zipped right along except for another brief slowdown, this time caused by the script - what one of my writing teachers used to refer to as "the muddle in the middle." Most of the time, however, Lyle's interaction with humans is likely to keep the attention of the kids and all but the most cynical adult audience members.

The cast also includes Christopher Wilson and Phillip Reid as Funny Guys 1 and 2. Christopher Baine is the sound designer, Brittany Diliberto the lighting designer, Deborah Jacobson the music director, and Kristen J. Bishel the stage manager. Imagination Stage's artistic director is Janet Stanford and its executive director is Bonnie Fogel.

LYLE THE CROCODILE will run through January 10, 2014. Imagination Stage is located at 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-280-1660, www.imaginationstage.org.

For more on LYLE THE CROCODILE, including additional photos, click HERE.

Photo Credit: Margot Schulman

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