Audience Members Help to Enliven ‘New Wives Tales’

What do a Russian witch, a Colombian goddess and King Arthur have in common? They’re all part of the comical “New Wives Tales,” the second in a new, free series of performances by the We Tell Stories children’s theater troupe at the Ivy Substation in Culver City.

With the aid of a trunk full of costumes, a generous amount of funny business and game young audience volunteers, troupe members Candy Danzig, Armando Ortega and Stacy Turner act out the company’s original adaptations of three tales presented in tribute to women of fairy tale and legend.

The first story, “The Clock That Was Really an Egg,” about villagers who nearly forget their good goddess Huitaca when a fast-talking salesman introduces them to the concepts of time and conformity, was unevenly executed in spots at its opening performance, but the next two were zany delights.

In “Vasalisa and the Doll,” a Russian “Cinderella” featuring a magic doll instead of a fairy godmother, three young audience members did a winning job playing the heroine Vasalisa and wicked stepchildren. In the show’s best tale, “The Marriage of Sir Gawaine and Lady Ragnall,” King Arthur’s life will be forfeit unless he can answer the question, “What do women want most in the world?”

Audience members tried to help: “A baby,” “a husband,” “money” (this last from a dad). The satisfying real answer will not be revealed here, but suffice it to say that King Arthur survives, thanks to his loyal knight Sir Gawaine and a marriage-minded monster.

The professional adult actors, a different trio from the troupe’s first show, proved adept and comical. As always, however, one of the primary pleasures of this company’s work is the unrehearsed charm of the children who intrepidly join them on stage.

* “New Wives Tales,” Ivy Substation, 9070 Venice Blvd., Saturday, 11 a.m. through March 24. Free; (213) 256-2336.

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‘Dream Catchers’: Artist David Orozco will conduct a free family arts workshop inspired by Native American artistic traditions, on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Ramona Gardens Community Service Center, 2830 Lancaster Ave. in East L.A. Participants will use found objects to create personal dream catchers built with coat hangers, wire and string.

On March 24, artist-silversmith Eva Nathanson will conduct a free jewelry workshop for families at Farmers Market’s Art Gallery on the 2nd floor at Third Street and Fairfax Avenue. Students will use found objects to create wearable works of art.

Information: (213) 485-4474.