Photo Flash: Children's Theater at Acorn Presents Puss 'n Boots

This winter, Acorn Productions' "Fairy Tale Players," an ensemble of children, teens and adults who have studied at the Acorn Acting Academy, continues its third season of productions with Producing Director Michael Levine's adaptation of Puss 'n Boots.

The production is suitable for audiences of all ages, and centers around the story of a clever cat who helps her mistress win the love of a prince by pretending to be the Marquis de Carrabas. Along the way, we meet a crazy cast of characters including spoiled sisters, a foolish hare, and a lonely ogre. Acorn's comedic version of the well-known fairy tale is directed by Karen Ball, and the script includes references to King Lear and the Occupy Wall Street Movement for the more sophisticated audience members. There are 8 actors ranging in age from 9 to 17 in the show, which runs from January 28 to February 12 in the Acorn Studio Theater in Westbrook, with tickets $8 for adults and $6 for kids 12 and under. Call Acorn at 854-0065 or visit www.acorn-productions.org for more info or to order tickets. Puss 'n Boots is sponsored by IDEXX Laboratories.

The action of Puss 'n Boots begins when a hard-working miller wins a million gold pieces by virtue of her standing as the kingdom's most boring person. In the ensuing squabble between her three daughters, the youngest Connie receives only a mangy cat as her inheritance. Little does she know that the cat possesses a wit beyond all others, and she soon has Connie pretending to the rich and powerful Marquis de Carrabas in order to win the love of a handsome prince. Through a series of devious ploys, Puss wins the king's favor and manages to unite Connie with her videogame-loving prince just when all seems lost.

Puss 'n Boots features 8 students from the Acorn Acting Academy who have been affiliated with the company for the past three seasons in the company's after school acting classes. The mission of Acorn's Fairy Tale Players is to provide children the opportunity to practice their acting skills in a safe and nurturing environment. The cast members come from a variety of communities in Greater Portland, and many of them have been featured in previous productions by the Fairy Tale Players. The following student actors will be appearing in Peter Pumpkin Eater : Adrienne Cordes, Jaclyn Hazlewood, and Nate Jacobs who reside in Westbrook, Angela Moline from Lyman, Josh Cohen, a Scarborough resident, Isabella Levine and Cameron Wood from Portland, and Alexandra Neudek who lives in Falmouth.

The third season of Fairy Tale Players is part of Acorn's Studio Series, a year long schedule of plays presented in the company's Acorn Studio Theater in Westbrook. The mission of the Studio Series is to offer Metro-West audiences the opportunity to see live professional theater in their own community. Acorn's plays showcase the work of local playwrights and actors, allowing for a more comprehensive training program at the Acorn Acting Academy, a theater school offering classes for adults and kids. Acorn Productions is a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1998, and dedicated to increasing awareness of and participation in the performing arts by all members of the community.

What: Puss 'n Boots
adapted by Michael Levine and directed by Karen Ball

Who: Acorn's Fairy Tale Players

When:
Saturday, January 28 at 11 a.m.
Sunday, January 29 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, February 4 at 11 a.m.
Sunday, February 5 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, February 11 at 11 a.m.
Sunday, February 12 at 2 p.m.

Where: Acorn Studio Theater, Dana Warp Mill, 90 Bridge St., Westbrook

How Much: $8 adults; $6 kids 12 and under

FMI: www.acorn-productions.org or 854-0065