Gobs of Giggles Animate Agoura Theatre Festival

Laughs of recognition greet a circus contortionist’s joke about natural childbirth. A mother sits in the sun feeding her baby; toddlers lurch along rustic paths with parents in tow.

Preschoolers and elementary-school-age children string beads, paint pumpkins, join a costume parade, jump to the beat of a favorite singer, give the actor dressed as a Victorian otter a knee-high hug, giggle at a Punch and Judy show, or make up their own games under the oak trees.

Growing success hasn’t spoiled TAFFY, the Theatre Arts Festival for Youth. It made a welcome return last weekend for a seventh year at the rustic Peter Strauss Ranch in Agoura; it will conclude Saturday and Sunday, running 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

What makes it work? The performers--singers, actors, musicians--are professionals (in early days there was an amateur-professional mix). The increasingly complex mechanics--food, safety, parking, design and programming--are generally well-coordinated, although pesky hornets scored a few hits opening weekend.

But most importantly, producers John and Pam Wood of J.P. Nightingale have kept TAFFY’s heartbeat alive: home-grown simplicity.

A random sampling of attendees:

“It’s good clean fun. The kids really have a good time, they learn creative things and they get to express themselves,” said Ed Sabo of Lancaster on opening day with his three daughters, ages 8, 7 and 5. “I think it’s great.”

“The characters are best,” said Rachelle Sabo, 8, referring to the Puddledumplin Players who entertain visitors all day in remarkable makeup as Victorian animals.

“I like everything here,” said 9-year-old Rachel Weinstein of Hancock Park. Her mother, Cheryl, added that they had especially enjoyed A&M; recording artist Linda Arnold: “We have all her tapes; we love her.”

“It’s really geared for children,” said first-time festivalgoer Paul Crockett of Burbank, there with his wife and 2-year-old daughter Lisa. “It’s clean, they’ve got security all over the place, the price is reasonable--they do a great job.” What was Lisa enjoying most? “She’s trying to do about everything; she’s wearing us out.”

There is the danger that as major record labels snap up local talent, a more aggressive, commercial atmosphere may pervade. That hasn’t happened yet, although A&M; was not the only major label represented: Dan Crow, Craig & Co. and Caren Glasser, newly signed to Sony, Disney and Kid Rhino, respectively, were on the bill.

So were singer-musician Paul Tracey, San Francisco storyteller Diane Ferlatte, the We Tell Stories theater troupe, Chinese dancer Alice Lo, the Scott Land Marionettes, KPFK-FM’s Uncle Ruthie, mime Sasha, Ben and Jerry’s New Vaudeville Light Circus.

This weekend Norman Foote, Parachute Express, the Jim Gamble Marionettes and the San Andreas Brass, are among those scheduled to appear.

And, if you leave early, you’ll miss a highlight: comic trio J.P. Nightingale, wrapping up the day.

John Wood, who wondered on Monday if the Senate hearings or fear of the heat had kept opening day’s attendance low at 1,500 (the weekend total was about 4,000), said the challenge is to keep the nonprofit festival “a changing venue, a growing, breathing entity,” without losing the integrity of the event. “We want it to be a festival of surprises,” he said.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the survival of TAFFY’s good will and innocence.

“TAFFY,” Peter Strauss Ranch (Lake Enchanto), Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $9 per adult; $8 per child ($1 more at the door; younger than 3, free). (818) 998-2339.