‘Hippollome’ Messes With Myth

“Hippollome: A Modern Earth Myth,” presented by the Los Angeles Repertory Theatre, has to be one of the most well-meaning children’s shows around.

But not even its sincere, save-the-environment mantra--”Re-use, recycle, re-create”--can save this muddled musical at the Richard Basehart Theatre in Woodland Hills.

Mother Earth (Sheri Foster) is in terrible shape, smothered in junk and gasping for air. Two mythological characters decide to help. Hippolyte and Apollo team up to show us consumers and the “No-faces”--those who pollute in order to supply consumer demand for goods--the error of our ways.

But good intentions can’t make up for loose staging, wince-making dialogue, patchily integrated music and an uneven cast.

As Hippolyte, queen of the Amazons in Spandex, attractive Meenakshi overdoes “perky,” while Kyle B. Smith as Apollo, in beachy “yo, dude” duds, speaks only in awkward rhyme: “You guys are making lots of noise, where’s your poise” and “Clean up the slime and all’ll be sublime.”

Things liven up when Kevin White’s hip Recyc is on stage; White brings authority and vocal presence to his role. But that’s not enough to overcome Mary Ann Miller and Wendie Willson’s sketchy script and Willson’s uncertain direction.

“Hippollome: A Modern Earth Myth,” Richard Basehart Theatre, 21020-B Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills, Saturdays, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Ends next Sat. $4-$8; (818) 704-1845. Running time: 45 minutes.