In case you have forgotten, Oscar Wilde wrote short stories as well as plays. This is another clever and entertaining show geared for children, and it has an 11am curtain. It also runs for just one hour giving grown-ups time for lunch before any of the 2pm matinees. A half dozen youngsters have been pre-selected to participate minimally in this amusing diversion that incorporates four parable-like stories as adapted for the stage by Kate Henning. “The Selfish Giant,” about the saving grace of children; “The Nightingale and the Rose,” and “The Happy Prince,” about sacrifice and salvation, are sandwiched within “The Remarkable Rocket,” about a frustrated firecracker rocket who is kept earthbound by his ego. Kudos to director Christine Brubaker for creating a simple playground. The actors are dressed in the whimsical costumes and perform within the single setting—basically the giant's garden—designed by Jennifer Goodman. They work a lot with puppets. Whether every child will ponder the deeply spiritual lessons of the stories is questionable, but that is where those who accompany them can take over. The children at the performance I attended loved every minute.
