With Foote’s Quirky Songs, the Joint’s Always Jumping

If you haven’t yet met Canadian family entertainer Norman Foote, or if you’d like to renew your acquaintance with this quirky singer and his slightly edgy, comic rhythms and rhymes, you have two chances.

You can catch Foote in concert with his “props with attitude,” a youth symphony and host Kino, from KCET’s “Storytime,” at Craig ‘n Co.’s Sunday Funday Concert Series at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre this week, and you can pick up Foote’s most recent album, “Shake a Leg.”

Foote is no bland nursery rhyme artist, something he proves once again on his most assured album to date, a collection of lyrically inventive, musically sophisticated original songs by Foote and others, seasoned with a sly twist or two--the singer’s trademark.

“Oodles of Doodles,” for instance, is about a budding artist from whom no surface is safe, who “drew beards on all the babies, mustaches on all the ladies” and ended up with a “doodling degree” and an international reputation.

A Foote album wouldn’t be the same without a reference or two to the lower extremities, thus “Smelly Feet,” a wacky, impolite waltz, and “Brand New Shoes,” an R&B; exuberance.

Another highlight is “Take Us on the Rides,” an irresistible, country-style amusement park plea from kids to their dad.

Foote, who plays guitar, is joined by several sterling musicians on keyboards, sax, bass, mandolin, harmonica and other instruments.

* Album: “Shake a Leg,” Oak Street Music/Sony Music, CD: $18.98; audiocassette: $10.98; (800) 668-0242.

* Show: John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. E., Sunday, 4:30 p.m. (pre-show activities), $7; (213) 466-1767.

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Mixed Tale: Imagination Station continues its second season as resident children’s theater company at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica with the fairy-tale classic “East of the Sun, West of the Moon.” Results are mixed.

The four-member cast is stretched a bit too thin in this multi-character tale with its shades of “Beauty and the Beast” and Greek mythology, making for awkwardness in scene and role changes. An overreliance on storytelling narrative during the first half of the ensemble effort slows the pace, too.

As is usually the case with this promising company, however, there are rewards, particularly in the literate dialogue and the lively, comic second act, when the stalwart heroine, Anna (Shari Getz), tricks Princess Pignose (Jennifer Brandt) and the Three-headed Troll (Jake Eberle) and saves her prince (Jon Reed).

* “East of the Sun, West of the Moon,” Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, Saturdays, 10 a.m. and noon, through Aug. 10, $5-$7; (310) 828-7519. Running time: 1 hour.