Theater : ‘Maze Plays’ an Irresistible, Magical Children’s World

Ah, the magical, mystical world of childhood--a world long on surprises, wonder and imagination. A world where you don’t have to belabor how Sea Witches can steal voices (“The Little Mermaid”), people can disappear for years in a hot-air balloon (“The Wizard of Oz”) and a girl and her dog can save the day from the forces of evil (“Annie”).

In the American premiere of the irresistible “Mr. A’s Amazing Maze Plays” at the Old Globe’s Cassius Carter Centre Stage, British playwright Alan Ayckbourn proves himself marvelously adept at tapping into that world--with an original and modern twist.

When his young heroine, Suzy, wends her way into the home of the evil Mr. Accousticus--who steals voices--the audience decides by a show of hands whether she goes down the hallway or through a door, whether she goes to “the red room” or further down the hall, whether she goes through a small concealed door or opens French windows to reveal a jungle.

Welcome to a brave new interactive age in which the audience must help their heroine save the day. Welcome to the suspense of wondering if the actors can truly master the 26 possible locations the devilishly clever Ayckbourn has written into a children’s play that is definitely not child’s play.

Ayckbourn, whose prolific and funny pen has earned him the sobriquet of the British Neil Simon, has never previously been a happily-ever-after sort of playwright. Most of his 47 works gleam with acidic details of adult betrayals and peccadilloes. But, here, the master of the difficult puzzle play for adults fools us again by entering the innocent world of a child with complete, unabashed good humor and good will.

Young, pigtailed Suzy (Jennifer Hugus) is just the bright, stalwart and stubborn young English heroine you can trust to solve the mysteries of “The Secret Garden” or “Alice in Wonderland.” Ever since her father (Steve Jones) disappeared in a hot-air balloon, she has been a comfort to her lovable but dizzy mother (Lynne Griffin) and her dog Neville (whom we see grow up from a bit of barking fur to actor Sean Sullivan in a dog suit).

Then Mr. Accousticus (Jonathan McMurtry) moves into the large, mysterious house across the street, and people, dogs and birds start losing their voices. Suzy realizes immediately that something is not right about this oily-voiced man in the dark, handsome suit, but will she be able to persuade her mother before Mr. Accousticus literally charms the words right out of their mouths?

In the world of magic--as any wise child knows--all ingredients must be just so, from eye of newt to head of toad. Under the exquisitely detailed direction of Old Globe executive producer Craig Noel, every ingredient is precisely right, from Greg Lucas’ spookily suggestive set to the impeccable casting.

Hugus’ self-possessed Suzy anchors the play, much of which is told in alternating narration by the dryly funny Ralph Elias and the exuberantly warm Katherine McGrath at opposite stair exits from the theater in the round.

Lynne Griffin plays the daffy mother to sweet perfection while Richard Easton sloshes delicately around as Suzy’s friend, the chronically inebriated Mr. Passerby. McMurtry’s unctuous delivery as Mr. Accousticus conjures up a likely devil, and Sullivan’s Neville, the ultimate scene-stealing dog, is a marvel of mop threads masquerading as fur, a whitened face with a funny nose mask, prancing and rolling on all fours, snuffling and barking and needing nary a word to tell his every thought.

In Lucas’ stark but suggestive set, hot-air balloons rise and descend, smoke and light billow up through loose blue-gray flagstones, and cobwebs hang from chandeliers borrowed from Miss Havisham’s stock. Clare Henkel’s elegant English costumes, largely in black and white, summon us back to the world of old movies. Michael Gilliam’s lighting deepens the mystery and the all-important sound design of Jeff Ladman hits a rousing climax when Suzy and Neville discover the cabinet where Mr. Accousticus files all his stolen voices and noises right down to burglar alarms and toilets flushing.

“Mr. A’s Amazing Maze Plays” debuted at Ayckbourn’s own Stephen Joseph Theatre (also a theater in the round) in Scarborough in 1988 and opened at London’s National Theatre last March. Since then, Ayckbourn has written five more scripts for children and adults who have not lost the child in them.

In a world that can never have too much wonder and goodwill, here’s looking forward to the next of Mr. Ayckbourn’s amazing maze plays.

* “Mr. A’s Amazing Maze Plays,” Cassius Carter Centre Stage, Balboa Park, San Diego. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m., Saturday-Sunday matinees, 2 p.m. Ends March 6. $23-$34. (619) 239-2255. Running time: 1 hour, 35 minutes.

‘Mr. A’s Amazing Maze Plays’

Ralph Elias: 1st Narrator Katherine McGrath: 2nd Narrator Jennifer Hugus: Suzy Lynne Griffin: Mother Sean Sullivan: Neville Steve Jones: Father Richard Easton: Mr. Passerby Jonathan McMurtry: Mr. Accousticus

An Old Globe Theatre production. By Alan Ayckbourn. Directed by Craig Noel. Sets: Greg Lucas. Costumes: Clare Henkel. Lights: Michael Gilliam. Sound: Jeff Ladman. Stage manager: Jerome J. Sheehan.