A ‘Beauty’ for Youngsters

It may have taken awhile--say 100 years--but thanks to a “Handsome Prince Escape Clause,” “Sleeping Beauty” receives her happily-ever-after ending in Storybook Theatre’s comic version of the fairy tale at Theatre West.

A revival of one of the company’s best efforts, this bubbly musical is notable not for the cast’s (modest) singing voices and the (no-frills) staging but for its gentle, kid-friendly silliness and slightly spicy, parent-savvy humor.

Above all, the show gives children in the audience ample opportunity to get involved, on stage and off. They give Sleeping Beauty her name (although a few at a recent performance would have preferred Cinderella to Aurora). They present baby shower gifts, help the queen (Susan Morgenstern) change the baby princess’ diaper--an occasion for comic grimaces--and give Fairy Morbid (Bonnie Kalisher) a hand in teaching royalty a lesson in gratitude.

They also try to wake the adult Sleeping Beauty (Kim McGuire) by tickling her--McGuire’s fortitude under the circumstances is admirable--and they coach the prince (Ty Stoller), whose royal dignity is in comic contrast to the unusual-looking stuffed horse that he “rides.”

Chris Wallace’s humorous songs--”A Baby’s a Wonderful Thing,” “We’re Changing the Baby,” “A Pleasure Being Me” and other upbeat ditties--add bounce. Writer Lloyd J. Schwartz, who co-directs with Barbara Mallory Schwartz, makes the ending a giggly surprise for those young fairy-tale aficionados who think they know what to expect. Let’s just say it involves a song called “It’s Great to Be a Monkey.”

There’s nothing deep going on in this good-natured show, and the professional adult actors don’t turn in the most memorable performances, but there’s no denying the show’s appeal for preschoolers and elementary school-age kids who clamor to participate and enthuse throughout.

* “Sleeping Beauty,” Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd., Saturdays, 1 p.m., indefinitely. $8. (818) 761-2203.

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Radio Days: “A good story’s for everyone.” That has been Ruth “Uncle Ruthie” Buell’s motto for 37 years on her not-for-children-only radio show “Halfway Down the Stairs,” on KPFK-FM (90.7).

And, although recent major programming changes have cut the show from an hour to 30 minutes, entertainment for all ages is still the guiding light of Buell’s trademark mix of children’s music, literature-based storytelling and in-studio conversation. This week, the show’s theme is Passover.

“We’ll have a wonderful story by Mark Gilman, from his book, ‘God’s Mailbox,’ about ‘The Pharoah and the Frogs,’ ” Buell said. “It’s told in a very humorous style, but it covers everything in the Passover story.”

The show will also include another Passover tale and music by various children’s artists. “I am of course disappointed about having my time cut,” Buell noted, “but I will continue to do quality programming in half-hour segments, and I might do some two-parters and specials.”

The veteran folk artist/storyteller invites parents and children to give her a call (at the number below) and make arrangements to “come down to the station and see how radio is done. Sometimes, I let kids be my announcer.”

* “Halfway Down the Stairs,” KPFK-FM (90.7), Sundays, 8:30-9 a.m. (310) 838-8133.

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Buell, who is also in the children’s entertainment lineup at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at UCLA on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m., can also be seen in her other incarnation as an entertainer for grown-ups, in her new, autobiographical show, “Bereavement, Healing and the Human Comedy,” Saturday at Noble House Concerts. Joining Buell for this evening of poetry, jazz, folk music, comedy and audience sing-along participation is virtuoso musician Fred Sokolow.

* Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Noble House, 5705 Noble Ave., Van Nuys. $12. (818) 780-5979.