Humor, Music Propel ‘Engine’

“The Little Engine That Could” almost can’t at Santa Monica’s Powerhouse Theatre, but mild slapstick and lively music keep this toddler show from running out of steam before its hour and 10 minutes are up.

Big, bouncy musical numbers by bthe play’s writer, Mary Cappelli Cruise, with arrangements by Michael Cappelli, have the quality the play itself lacks, in contrast to an unimaginative, static set--the train is represented by two small benches--and trite dialogue.

The show’s other plus is a cast of talented professionals, directed by Bill Rosenthal, who help this Mother Goose Children’s Theatre adaptation of the classic children’s book score well as participatory entertainment.

Monica Silvera is Raggedy Anne (sic), stranded with Ted E. Bear (Eric Zane) in the middle of nowhere when the train stalls and the Conductor (Wayne Wagner) goes off to find help. While he’s gone, Mean Train (Charles Reese) steals the train’s load of toys and an engine named Maria (Edris Cooper) and the Peace Train (Wagner) won’t help out.

Before the Little Blue Engine (Cooper again) comes to the rescue, Raggedy Anne has cured Ted E. Bear of his low self-esteem problem and hugged the Mean Train into good humor.

Bad guy Reese, tall and lean, wearing a battered black hat with his T-shirt and jeans, is the biggest crowd pleaser. His “Ain’t Nobody Gonna Mess With Me” musical spot is the show’s highlight.

Silvera, pretty and petite, is occasionally too shrill with her numerous wide-eyed “Wowee’s!” but she and the rest of the cast know how to get the audience involved--clapping, singing and joining the action on stage.

At 3116 2nd St. in Santa Monica, Saturdays, 3 p.m., indefinitely. Tickets: $5. (213) 392-6529.