'Dora' makes the visit count

‘Dora’ makes the visit count

By Lynne Heffley

Aug. 8, 2003 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

“Hola, soy Dora.... Let’s go, vamonos!.... One, two, three, uno, dos, tres ... “

If there’s any doubt that Nickelodeon’s bilingual cartoon series for preschoolers “Dora the Explorer” is a ratings-winner among the 2-to-5 set, sit with several hundred of these veteran “Dora” viewers in a theater while they groove on the touring stage version of the show, “Dora the Explorer Live! -- Search for the City of Lost Toys.”

And admire their lung power. At opening night Wednesday at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, the response to the educational show’s continuous, built-into-the-plot requests for audience participation was enthusiastic -- and deafening.

Particularly since the script overworks a device common to these kinds of TV-to-stage shows: Ask the audience for a group answer to a question and no matter how loud the response, whip up the volume with a jolly, “I can’t hear you.”

But in this high-energy, upbeat show, written by the series’ co-creator Chris Gifford and directed by Gil Hoppe, the engine that makes it go, just as in the TV version, is an invitation to the audience to do a little thinking and to play along, with the help of the shiny blue stars (estrellas) on a stick that children are given as they enter the theater.

Toys have gone missing, including Dora’s teddy bear Osito and Azul the Train’s whistle, and Dora (played by perky adult stage pro Christina Bianco) and her pal Boots the Monkey (Greg Kata) have to find them before light-fingered Swiper the Fox does. With the help of Map (an actor in a scroll of foam fabric), Dora learns that she must go through the Number Pyramid and straighten out the Mixed Up Jungle before she reaches the City of Lost Toys.

The audience members count along, repeat English and Spanish words, sing along with familiar songs from the series, point out objects, foil Swiper’s plans, jump up and down on cue, help figure out where things go in the jungle and wave their estrellas to facilitate various actions.

All of this goes over exceedingly well with Dora’s pint-sized fans, as does some high-flying vine-swinging by Dora and Boots.

Sets and costumes, by David Gallo and Gregg Barnes, respectively, reproduce the tropical look, colors and characters of the TV show; set pieces against painted backdrops are in a storybook, cutout style, while Dora and her motley gaggle of animal friends are a mix of costumed characters, body puppets and rod and hand puppets.

After the Kodak run ends Sunday, the show will play in September at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach and the Bakersfield Centennial Garden & Convention Center.

‘Dora’

Where: Kodak Theatre, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood & Highland Entertainment Complex, Hollywood

When: Today, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m., 2 and 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m. and 2 and 5:30 p.m.

Ends: Sunday

Price: $19-$40

Contact: (323) 308-6363, (213) 480-3232

Running time: 80 minutes

Also

Where: Bakersfield Centennial Garden & Convention Center, 1001 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield

When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.; Sept. 3, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Ends: Sept. 3

Price: $15-$35