‘The Jungle Book’ Makes Good Theater

“I’m glad we came, aren’t you?” a woman was overheard to say to a friend after a recent production of the Children’s Theatre Company’s “The Jungle Book” at Irvine Barclay Theatre’s Cheng Hall. “It doesn’t seem like a children’s show, it seems like it’s more for adults.”

The 28-year-old company from Minneapolis knows what the appreciative audience member didn’t: Children’s theater isn’t by definition inferior. Good theater is good theater, whatever the target audience, as this fine adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli stories proves.

The production’s exotic tone is set before the show starts with an eye-catching arch of long-tailed monkeys, elephants and pagodas that frames the stage with symmetrical elegance. Then comes the sound of a flute, the curtains part to show trees and temple ruins in silhouette, and a voice says, “Imagine a night and a newborn moon. . . .”

And the play begins, a story within a story, about an orphan adopted by a storyteller, a “man cub” adopted by wolves, the killer tiger who claims him as prey and the mystical Law of the Jungle as set forth by Tha, the First Elephant and jungle Creator.

Inspired by folk theater traditions of India, the production mixes limited dialogue with mime and dance. To suggest their animal characters, the actors wear skillfully crafted, stylized half-masks. (Maggie Belle Calin is credited with both set and costume design.) The cast’s lithe movements, whether panther, wolf, snake or tiger, are an integral part of each character.

Gregory Beech as elephants Tha and Hathi, moves with ponderous dignity; the python Kaa is given sinuous grace and beauty by Jocelyn Gorham. With athletic prowess, Richard Gustafson and Joseph P. McElroy stretch and leap as wolves; Shawn Hamilton’s arrogant posturings as evil Shere Khan the Tiger convey menace and Peter Jerrod Macon is a sleek and regal Bagheera the panther.

The atmosphere becomes somewhat more prosaic when the cast members speak. A slightly rough-edged, youthful energy and Western emphasis replace Eastern exoticism. (Christopher Parries, the only child in the cast, capably handles the roles of both Mowgli and the orphan boy. Siua Hafoka plays the parts in alternate performances.)

The miming, however, and the dances with their precise movements and dramatic foot stamping, are outstanding. (Rita Mustaphi is listed as “cultural consultant.”)

Evocative, Indian-flavored music, by Roberta Carlson, is provided by bells, flute, cello, keyboards, drums, keyboards and offstage narrative vocals; Charles D. Craun’s delicate lighting design adds shadowy mystery and bright washes of illumination.

Smoothly directed by Wendy Lehr, this adaptation by Thomas W. Olson, with its cautionary message about indiscriminate violence, and its plea for respect for our fellow creatures, is recommended for ages 6 and up--and parents, too.

The Jungle Book. Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis. tonight , 7:30 , at Bridges Auditorium, Claremont Colleges, 4th and College Way, (714) 621-8032, $4-$18; Saturday, 3 p.m at UC Riverside, University Theatre, (714) 787-4629, $2.50-$6; Sunday, 7 p.m. at UC San Diego’s Mandeville Auditorium, (619) 534-4090, $14-$16; Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, (619) 340-ARTS, (619) 278-TIXS; Feb. 6, 2 p.m. at UCLA, Royce Hall, (310) 825-2101, $10-$18; Feb. 7, 7 p.m. at Ventura High School, (805) 654-6459, (805) 648-4767, $10-$12. Running time: 65 minutes.