REVIEW: Piwacket Theatre for Children Presents Delightful Holiday-Themed Show with MISCHIEVOUS ELF

Piwacket Theatre for Children's second Christmas-themed offering of the season concerns a Mischievous Elf, and conveys a positive message about maintaining hope in the face of adversity to its young audience. This tale of holiday merriment is filled with song and dance, and it's sure to please your wee ones, while also teaching them a valuable lesson along the way.

A toy shop is home to a mischievous elf by the name of Murray, who gets into trouble rearranging items in the store, and generally confusing the owner. He's joined by a hip-hop ballerina named Bonita, who would rather bust a move to a serious groove than dance on her toes to classical music. They're both worried that they'll wind up as misfit toys, with no boy or girl interested in taking them home due to their unique qualities. They're joined by Ray the Power Ranger, who uses his Hope-O-Scope to divine their future, offering up the possibility of better things to come when he peers into it. Eventually they're sold to happy children, ensuring better prospects for the pair.

Ellie Schwetye gives an energetic performance as Murray, and her playful singing and dancing adds considerably to the fun atmosphere. Erin Rogers is also very good as Bonita, the ballerina who wants to be a hip-hop queen, and her vocals and dance moves are well executed. Scott Sears is solid as Randy the Power Ranger, and as the perplexed toy shop owner.

This colorful presentation delivers useful information children can utilize, and it features a host of original tunes mixed with some familiar yuletide favorites like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Winter Wonderland". More importantly, the children in the audience, along with my own four year old son, seemed completely captivated and engaged by this production.

Piwacket Theatre for Children's presentation of Mischievous Elf is scheduled for another performance on December 17 at 10:30 am, and as part of a double bill with The Holiday Show on December 19 beginning at 11am, at the Black Cat Theatre in Maplewood, MO.

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