‘CINDERELLA’ WALKS LIKE AN EGYPTIAN WITHOUT A TUT-TUT

In the Firebird Theatre Company’s version, Cinderella still lives happily ever after, but in ancient Egypt--with Pharaoh.

Instead of a fairy godmother, it is Isis, goddess of the Nile, and her son, Horus, who come to Cinderella’s aid, while Anubis, the jackal-headed god, is thwarted in his attempts to steal her soul.

This exotic “Cinderella in Egypt,” written and directed by Sally Gordon and seen by elementary schoolchildren at Beverly Hills High School’s Little Theatre over the weekend, combines the more familiar story with an Egyptian tale called “The Girl With the Rose-Red Slippers,” about Rhodopis, a Greek slave who becomes the wife of Pharaoh.

As always, the Firebird Theatre Company doesn’t just put on a show. Its purpose is to fully involve children--many of whom are unfamiliar with live theater--not just as viewers, but as impromptu actors as well.

Saturday’s audience volunteers were recruited to play crocodiles and hippopotamuses, palace guards and dancing girls, as well as the key roles of Pharaoh and one of the evil stepsisters.

While the new cast members were quickly costumed and coached on stage, director Gordon filled in the background of story and setting and introduced the prologue--a struggle between the gods for Rhodopis’ soul.

Audience participation can be tricky business. Two guards, directed to fall asleep and leave Pharaoh unguarded, fell to the floor convincingly, spears clattering, but were loath to wake up again. Grand Vizier (Steve Jehring) prompted, “OK, men . . . Hey, gang . . . It’s time to wake up. We’ve only got 45 minutes!”

When words failed, Jehring lifted the two to their feet, an innovation much appreciated by the audience.

Pretty Laura Saylor as Rhodopis was on the receiving end of a kick too audible for comfort from her volunteer stepsister, who was living the role a bit too vividly.

Young Pharaoh, disdainfully regal, left most of the dialogue to his Grand Vizier, but unbent with a sheepish grin when Saylor embraced him.

The rest of the audience members, delighted to see their peers take the spotlight, giggled and called encouragement and at times it seemed that amiable chaos would prevail. Inevitably, the play became secondary to the participatory experience.

The professional cast, however, controlled the action with good humor. Actors Susan Devlin and Jerry Craig played duo roles--Devlin as Isis and the stepmother, Craig as Horus and the Pharaoh’s messenger. Jehring, playing Anubis and the Grand Vizier, made the biggest hit as one of the stepsisters, comical in long black wig and Egyptian gown over a pink leotard.

Libby Jacobs designed the pleasing costumes and Mary Tamaki the colorful animal masks. The clever set design--three painted pyramid shapes revolving to represent the banks of the Nile, the marketplace and Pharaoh’s palace--was done by Jan Cook.

More local performances of “Cinderella in Egypt” are still to be scheduled. Information: (213) 463-7602.