‘STREET’ GANG : Familiar Faces Put Into Song and Dance the Pleasures of Being ‘Friends’

Friendship is an up and down kind of thing at the sandbox age. Pals who can’t be parted from each other for a second on one day may be hurling Legos at each other’s heads the next. Even the smallest infraction, real or imagined, can be cause for a major falling out.

The folks who wrote Sesame Street Live’s “Let’s Be Friends” show are wise to this. The 90-minute musical, which opens today and continues through Sunday at The Pond of Anaheim, tells a story about the rewards of sticking with friends through thick and thin. And it uses a cast of familiar furred and/or feathered creatures from the television show (Ernie, Bert and Cookie Monster, among others), as well as relative newcomers such as the bilingual Rosita, to get its point across.

Seen last week during its stop at the Long Beach Arena (area dates include the Pasadena Civic Auditorium May 25 through 28 and the Los Angeles Sports Arena June 1 through 4), “Let’s Be Friends” is a simple tale told by simple characters (Face it: Big Bird’s a nice guy, but he’s no rocket scientist). It is sprinkled with rock- and pop-inspired tunes--some written for this show, some borrowed from the TV series--and a range of dance styles designed to strike a nostalgic chord with adults, as well as eye-popping colors, theatrical touches and splashy special effects to enchant the kids.

The story goes like this: Elmo, the youngest member of the Sesame Street gang, and his pal, Zoe, decide to start a club limited only to red and orange monsters, which they happen to be. Pretty soon, however, word of the exclusive club is out on the street, and every Tom, Dick and Herry Monster wants to join.

Now, if this were any place but Sesame Street, somebody would be shut out of the group, but here everybody eventually gets into the Friendship Club, and, in no time, the club is preparing for a trip to the circus.

Of course, a good story needs some conflict: It seems Telly and Cookie can’t go to the circus until they get a haircut and clean their room, respectively. So, do the others ditch the unfortunate two and go to the circus on their own? Or do they pitch in and help them through their tasks so they can all go together? And, what to do when Snuffy comes down with a head cold and can’t join them at all?

You have to ask? With a little teamwork and collective brainstorming, the gang works it out so everybody, even the ailing Snuffy, gets to enjoy the circus.

It’s not Tolstoy, but, as Sesame Street Live performance director Kim Gladman explained, “Let’s Be Friends” seeks mainly to enlighten through familiarity.

“For a lot of kids, this show is their first exposure to the performing arts,” said Gladman, a classically-trained dancer whose career includes seven years as a performer in various Sesame Street Live casts (her roles include Prarie Dawn and Tee Hee, a space alien from the planet Crayon). “But they’re comfortable because they’re with friends. Most of these kids, even some of the parents, have grown up with ‘Sesame Street.’ ” The television show is in its 25th season.

Having those familiar faces around makes it easier for kids to accept and retain the messages the stage shows carry, said Gladman.

“The message in this show is that everybody should be accepted . . . no matter what color you are or what your interests are,” said Gladman. “In ‘Let’s Be Friends,’ we’re teaching kids that friends are a support system for each other. Big Bird, Ernie . . . all these characters are like family to kids, and they trust them.”

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What:

Sesame Street Live Presents “Let’s Be Friends.”

When:

Tonight at 7 p.m.; Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 2 and 5:30 p.m.; Sunday at 1 and 4:30 p.m.

Where:

The Pond of Anaheim, 2695 E. Katella Ave.

Whereabouts:

From the Santa Ana (5) and Orange (57) freeways, exit at Ball Road and drive east. Turn right on Phoenix Club Drive to parking lots.

Wherewithal:

Tickets are $10.50 to $17. Discount coupons ($2.50 to $5 off selected tickets) are available at area Target stores. Parking is $6.

Where to call:

Pond box office: (714) 704-2400; or Ticketmaster: (714) 740-2000.