Uneven Start at Serendipity With ‘4th Grade Nothing’

Three-year-old Farley Drexel Hatcher, Fudge for short--is driving 10-year-old brother Peter bonkers. He is noisy, messes up Peter’s homework, sends Peter’s pet turtle Dribble to a dark fate that no turtle deserves, and his birthday party is the stuff of parental nightmares.

Worst of all, everyone thinks he is so cute. Poor Peter.

The new Serendipity Theatre Company at the Coronet, Los Angeles’ only full-time, Equity-contract children’s theater, is off to a rambunctiously funny, but uneven start with its version of the comic “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,” based on Judy Blume’s super children’s book.

If W.C. Fields were around, he would avoid this show like the plague. On opening night, tiny, 6-year-old Klee Bragger, a natural as Fudge, captivated a delighted audience every time he appeared. Breathy audience Awwwws greeted him throughout. (L. R. Davidson alternates in some performances.)

Josh Wheeler as Peter, and professionals Lauren Cole and Tim Kahle as Mom and Dad, along with Joyce Guy, Katy Henk and David Nathan Schwartz in multiple roles, bowed to the inevitable and provided enthusiastic backup.

The glitch is in the staging. Some timing lags and uncertain light cues are correctable, but two of co-directors Jody Johnston-Davidson’s and Scott Davidson’s choices are more problematic. They have given their cast an obstacle course of black-and-white cartoon-style sets and props. The look is appealing, but the clutter blocks audience sight lines and gives the actors too much maneuvering to think about.

And, although they get laughs, the adults playing secondary child roles loom over the diminutive Klee and look and sound out of place next to the real thing. This makes Blume’s famous tinkle scene appear unnecessarily coy.

Crisper staging would do justice to Bruce Mason’s hoot of a script. Even so, parents can be prepared for frequent repetitions of dialogue; this fatherly riposte was gleefully repeated by young theatergoers: “Eat it or wear it!”

At 366 N. La Cienega Blvd. , West Hollywood , through Nov. 25, Fridays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m., Sundays at 1 and 4 p.m. $6 per child (13 and younger); $10 per adult. (213) 652-9199 .