A View from the Cliff: “Little Prince” is big star

Bright sun and warmer weather rewarded hundreds of wide-eyed children with a family-friendly production at Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts. The beloved novella, “The Little Prince,” though filled with sophisticated metaphors, remains a delight for children of all ages. A combination of large handheld puppets and visual effects has brought the current stage version to another appreciative audience.

Running for just an hour, the dialogue holds the little one’s interest with just a little help provided by the grown-ups in the audience. The scenery is relatively minimal but efficient. A huge circle lays flat center stage. It is actually a very large sandbox containing real sand. Another large circle placed almost vertically becomes the backdrop for multiple scenes and settings.

Under the guidance of director Susan D. Atkinson, the players of the Bristol Riverside Theatre utilize a handful of large puppets. They are controlled by puppeteers dressed all in black. Each one is in full view of the audience. This particular style is fairly standard and did not detract from the movements of the colorful puppets themselves. It’s no coincidence that Emmy Award winner Michael Schupbach is their designer.

The Cummins and Scoullar version of the gentle little prince who falls to earth from his own special planet is as poignant as ever. The talking fox, snake, red rose, the aviator and other characters are not threatening to the youngsters.

In fact, the children  were clearly paying attention.  Snug in their parents’ and grandparents’ laps, they were heard to say innocently, “I want to put on my hat too,” “Why did he say that mommy?” and “What’s gonna happen next?”

The words of incredible wisdom that emanate from the mouths of the various puppets are underlined by the beautiful swirling lights, representing the universe, that whirl throughout the entire theatre at the play’s conclusion. The moment is so effective that several adults are caught in the moment as well. They crane their heads in every direction to witness the starry display.

The Target Storybook Series continues on stage with “Sleeping Beauty.”  The Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College will also host several more family oriented projects in the weeks ahead.  Call the box office at 718-951-4500 or surf to www.BrooklynCenterOnline.org.  As always, save me a seat on the aisle!