THEATER REVIEW : Zany ‘Amelia’ Comes to Musical Life at Coronet

Hire Amelia Bedelia as your maid and you’re in for a few surprises. Tell her to string the beans and she’ll string them, indeed--all over the house. Ask her to strip the bed sheets and you’ll find them in tatters. Instruct her to draw the drapes and she’ll do her artistic best with pencil and paper.

Peggy Parish’s books about the zany little maid with the literal mind have been giving young children the giggles for more than 30 years. The Serendipity Theatre Co.’s new stage adaptation at the Coronet Theatre is cloying at times, but a recent performance won frequent chuckles from both adults and children.

In Mea Martineau’s adaptation, directed by Susan Chow, Amelia Bedelia (Katy Henk) is hired sight unseen by snobbish Mr. and Mrs. Rogers (Denys Gawronski and Mary Coleston) to tidy the house before a long-awaited visit from their persnickety rich Aunt Myra (Bette Rae).

By the time Aunt Myra arrives, the living room is coated with talcum powder (they should have told Amelia to “undust” the furniture), potatoes and carrots are set about two by two--Amelia thought she was to “pair” the vegetables--and Mr. Rogers’ letters have been thoroughly stamped: Amelia used both feet. As you might expect, however, the Rogers’ disaster is Amelia’s triumph.

Henk likably brings Parish’s zany heroine to life, although the action slows during overly sweet “everyone is special” moments with Amelia’s young niece, Effie Lou (Lynsey Bartilson).

*

Bartilson, the only child in the cast (she alternates with two other young performers), is accomplished, but her character’s sticky messages of self-esteem and Amelia’s awkward crisis of confidence aren’t true to what makes Parish’s books so charming: Amelia’s blithe unawareness of her own quirks.

Music by C. A. Ballo and lyrics by Ballo and Martineau are sprightly; Ken Realista choreographs a sprinkling of comic touches. Jack M. Zoltak’s modest set and Daphne’s costumes are patterned after Fritz Siebel’s book illustrations.