Post-Riot Racism Lesson Needs to Be Rethought : Musicals: ‘Cracker Jack Day!,’ a fantasy for young audiences, tries to deliver a message on discrimination but misses its mark.

Discrimination among breeds in the canine world is meant to impart a lesson about racism in “Cracker Jack Day!,” a “post-riot” musical fantasy for young children at Friends and Artists Theatre in Hollywood.

It’s a laudable aim, but the show’s script, by director Jennie Kaplan, has some gaping holes and the staging is awkward, thanks to an unwieldy, cobbled together set piece by Bob Zentis that serves triple duty as a corner store, a classroom and a dog pound.

The audience meets Kim (perky Ruth Livier) as she’s being chased out of a store--the owner assumed she was going to steal something, referring to her as “you people” and “your kind.”

Soon after, Kim is seen exiting the store again, escorted by the owner who apologizes and says he’s seen the light. How? Why? We never know.

When Kim’s wish that she could change places with her dog Tito (Donya Giannotta) comes true, she finds that R.J. the poodle (Mitchel Evans in a comic turn) considers her inferior because she’s a mutt. The mean dogcatcher (Bill Kohne) is after her because he hates all black and white dogs.

Meanwhile, Tito, filling in for Kim, tries to deliver a report at school about Martin Luther King Jr. (Kohne doubles as the stern schoolteacher, garnering big laughs as he sits in the audience reacting to Tito’s fumbling effort.)

The show ends 45 minutes later with a celebratory group song about a lesson learned (Eric Bolton and Doug Lunn wrote the music, Kaplan wrote the lyrics). Unity and good will have prevailed and nobody hates anybody. Or do they?

Kaplan has somehow overlooked a glaring contradiction to her much underscored message of equality. In her make-believe world there is one despised minority: Snookums, the only feline character in the show (played by Dani Lunn, in a peripheral, non-speaking role).

It is acceptable to treat Snookums with contempt. One of R.J’s laugh lines is, “Excuse me, I have a cat to maul,” and the dogcatcher, cartoon style, chokes her, kicks her and throws her against the wall, to much audience laughter.

This well-intentioned show needs some serious rethinking.

“Cracker Jack Day!” Friends and Artists Theatre, 1761 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood, today and Nov. 8, 15, 22 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., $2.50-$4; (213) 340-3707.

Happenings: Life-size rod puppets, styled after Asante artwork, perform “Talk, An Asante (African) Folk Tale,” the new full-length offering from Jim Gamble Puppet Productions, at Citrus College in Glendora today. Tickets are $4 for ages 5 and up only. Information: (818) 914-4403.

“Uncle Ruthie” celebrates Halloween today and next Saturday with a special edition of her longtime radio show “Halfway Down the Stairs” featuring songs and stories, including readings from works by award-winning author Chris Van Allsburg. On KPFK-FM (90.7) at 10:30 a.m.

England’s Playbox Theatre, a 30-member company of adult professionals, will present two of its productions as part of a cultural exchange with the Santa Monica Playhouse. “The Cry of Women,” playing Wednesday for adults and teens, is a “collage” of women and war from ancient times to the present. Tickets are $7. Young audiences can see “Pinocchio,” an adaptation that was part of this year’s Edinburgh Festival. It uses storytelling techniques and movement inspired by the New Circus movement in Europe. “Pinocchio” runs Friday at 4 p.m.; tickets are $4. Information: (310) 394-9779, Ext. 1.