‘Player’ Slights Dramatic Context

When Jackie Robinson was recruited for the Brooklyn Dodgers by General Manager Branch Rickey in the mid-’40s, major league baseball was considered “a white man’s game.”

How Robinson broke the color barrier, in the face of continuous physical and verbal abuse heaped on him by players, management and the public at large, is the subject of “Most Valuable Player,” a Serendipity Theatre Company production for ages 6 and up at the Coronet Theatre.

Written by Mary Hall Surface and members of the California Young People’s Theatre and performed by a mostly professional cast, the show is informational and laced with important resonances for today.

The narrated docudrama, directed by Joyce Guy, doesn’t catch fire as theater, however. Action is restrained, stills and photographs are flashed on a large screen and dialogue comes straight from published record. But the production does give the audience a frank taste of the bigotry, disguised and overt, that framed Robinson’s life.

Most of the cast does a good job within the limitations of the format. In the title role, Tommy Ford strikes a spark toward the end when Rickey (Lyle Brooks) releases Robinson from his commitment to take what’s being dished out and lets him fight back. Denise Dowse, Peter McDonald, Jennifer Vally and Jeremy Scott play multiple roles as Philly and Brooklyn players, reporters or family members.

What’s missed is an effort to give dimension to the strong and complex high achiever who was somehow able to swallow his outrage in order to make history.

“Most Valuable Player,” Coronet Theatre, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 and 4 p.m. through May 10; $6-$12. (213) 652-9199. Running time: 1 hour, 10 minutes.

Over the ‘Rainbow’: Whimsical fantasy is Linda Arnold’s forte. Her story songs about elves, dancing rutabagas and alligators have earned the A&M; Records children’s artist a big following among the preschool crowd.

On tour with a concert of songs from her most recent album, “The Rainbow Palace, Broadway Classics and More,” Arnold will appear Sunday at North Hollywood High School and Thursday at Ventura High School.

Fans can expect her puppet creation, Tyrone the Dinosaur, to play a big part in the proceedings.

“It’s Tyrone’s birthday,” Arnold explained in a recent interview. “He gets a surprise birthday present at the end and the entire audience will participate in it--it’s a secret.”

Things have been going swimmingly for Arnold, whose pure soprano and meticulous professionalism makes her a favorite with parents too. Her first concert video, “Linda Arnold’s World of Make-Believe,” is set for a late summer release. Her nationally syndicated radio show, “Pickleberry Pie,” a half-hour of musical comedy for kids heard locally on KCSN-FM in Northridge, just won the 1992 American Women in Radio and Television Award.

Arnold credits motherhood, and especially her daughter Ariel, 14, who sings with her, with providing creative inspiration. “She’s always been such a great complement and working partner,” Arnold said. “It’s hard to imagine that this could have happened without her input and interest.”

The attractive, “thirtysomething” singer cautions those who think the booming children’s music market means easy pickings.

“People are jumping into it who think it’s something you can do if you put together some simple singalong songs. That irritates me a bit. Quality children’s music is a lot more than that. It has dedication and creativity behind it. Artists working with young children need to project positive images” and have “a sense of responsibility.”

“Linda Arnold in Concert,” North Hollywood High School, 5231 Colfax, Sunday, 1:30 p.m., $6.50-$7.50; (818) 786-6310. Ventura High School, 2155 E. Main St., Ventura, Thursday, 7 p.m., $4.50-$7.50; (805) 646-6997.