Rapunzel Lets Her Hair Down in Lightweight Fairy-Tale Comedy

Burbank’s pristine and lovely Falcon Theatre is a class act, and, onstage, so are Marcos Alvarez’s dramatic set design, Rand Ryan’s lovely dappled light design and Allison Achauer’s colorful costumes for a children’s theater production of “Rapunzel.”

Lori Marshall’s fairy-tale comedy, though, while boasting a cast of seasoned professionals, doesn’t live up to the assured flourish of its setting: imposing abstract towers complemented by a rose-vine-covered, curved wall. Instead, the short show is mildly amusing, but typical and slight.

Marshall’s script, directed by Kevin Larkin, uses TV, movie, music and commercial references as a shortcut to connect with the audience; it also includes dialogue meant to speak to adults over children’s heads. This works better at some times than others: Colleen Wainwright, as the Witch, gets a laugh when she tries to win Rapunzel back by offering to buy her “Rapunzel Barbie,” because “hair is a girl thing.” Rapunzel’s modest dreams of freedom involve going to the mall and shopping “for things I don’t need, like other kids,” and buying a McDonald’s Happy Meal.

But the comic value is questionable in Rapunzel’s Mother (Christy Bell) describing her absentee husband and her pregnancy, including a definition of morning sickness for the benefit of children who may not understand the term.

Wainwright ups the energy with polished, comic style, however, playing her wisecracking, wiry Witch with Dorothy Parker-ish overtones and having a great time when she reveals the reason for her hair obsession. The character remains unrepentant, despite a happily-ever-after ending, complete with rainbow and sugary song.

Genevieve Zweig has an appealing spark as a teenage Rapunzel, who looks perfectly at home in her elaborate princess dress with red high-topped sneakers.

Rounding out the professional cast are Tom Hines in leaf motif as the Tree, serving as both narrator and active participant, and David Tuchman, who plays an unglamorous prince.

Interaction with the audience wasn’t yet smoothly integrated into the show during opening weekend. It consists primarily of a few children being given props to be called for by characters at various points in the play; the child is invited on stage to deliver a mirror, a brush or a piece of silk, tells his or her name and is ushered off.

* “Rapunzel,” Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank, Saturdays, 1 p.m.; Sundays, 1 and 3 p.m. through July 31. For ages 5 and up. $8.50. (818) 955-8101. Running time: 45 minutes.

Name That Tune: Kids can get a taste of all kinds of musical styles at the Valley Cultural Center’s free, summer-long “Monday Morning Concerts for Kids,” a smorgasbord of classical music, jazz, world music and more at the new Madrid Theatre in Canoga Park.

The educational concerts are part of the center’s “Concerts in the Park” series, and are geared to ages 18 and under. They begin Monday with the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band. Next up is the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (July 12), San Fernando Valley Symphony (July 19), blues artist Mighty Mo’ Rodgers (July 26), Abalaye African Dance and Music (Aug. 2) and chamber orchestra Ritornello (Aug. 9).

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* “Monday Morning Concerts for Kids,” Mondays, 10 a.m., through Aug. 9. (818) 704-1358.