‘Snow White’ Tells a Merry Tale

“Snow White” is fairy-tale light in the Falcon Theatre’s cozily familiar production. It’s the kind of breezy comic diversion that had been the theater’s most usual children’s fare until its most recent season, featuring the anarchic Troubadour Players’ circus madness, “Funky Punks With Junk in Their Trunks,” and avant-garde French duo Blue Palm’s poetic theater-dance piece, “Childhood.”

That’s not to say, however, that this professionally staged “Snow White,” though formulaic, isn’t entertaining. Written by Thorin Alexander, and executed with a thankfully light touch by director Hope Alexander, it is more evenly constructed than some of its predecessors. The resulting romp clips merrily along, narrated in song by composer John C. Brown--guitar in hand and wearing fairy tale garb--and performed by a solid adult cast led by irresistible Lenore Thomas as a sweet but not sugary Snow White.

Wesley Horton hits the right note of tongue-in-cheek brashness as Snow White’s handsome admirer, Leon the Huntsman-turned-lifeguard, and Richard Wylie’s comic energy as M.D.--a full-sized substitute for the Seven Dwarfs--adds bounce.

Melanie Ewbanks, meanwhile, is fun as the over-the-top wicked queen, who dons Groucho glasses as her disguise and who must not only contend with her stepdaughter’s beauty, but with her talking mirror’s (Wylie) lukewarm support: “Looking glass on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?

“You’re a close second. Is that so bad?”

Contemporary references--cell phones, Twinkies, lifeguards and Bob’s Big Boy--figure into the mix to win quick laughs from children and adults. But the production brings the story to life too, enough so that younger audience members are soon shouting out choruses of advice and warnings to help Snow White reach her happy ending.

When she’s about to take a bite of the apple: “No, it’s poison!”

When M.D. suggests that he fetch the queen to help: “No! She’s the one that did it!” and “Get the Huntsman!”

The audience can clap along with some musical raps too (Valerie Herkert did the light choreography), one child is recruited to tell Leon what has happened, and the entire audience helps save Snow White by blowing kisses her way.

The simple but colorful set by Joe Ferrulli earns approval for its surprise fold-out cottage interior; costume designer Amanda Lewis’ sparkly white satin dress for Snow White is a crowd-pleaser too, and Nick McCord adds a bit of depth with a pretty lighting design that includes lengths of leafy silhouettes and lightning.

*

“Snow White,” Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank. Thorin Alexander’s zany version of the tale. Sundays, 1 p.m.; Saturdays, 1 and 3 p.m. Ends June 16. $10. (818) 955-8101. Running time: 45 minutes.