Not all of the Grimm Brothers' 19th-century versions of much older folktales translate well into a modern sensibility. The Elves and the Shoemaker might be one of them.
This holiday production, which opened Friday at the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre, is an odd, rather muddled story of an Irish shoemaker named Jack (John Isner) who starts out sincerely believing the most important thing in life is family, until his fortunes hit a downturn and he's facing financial ruin. Then, through the intervention of magic (the source is evident from the title of the show), he discovers and embraces the joys of being a capitalist.
This turns him into a despicable money-grubber who causes distress to his loving wife Anna (Katie Campbell) and idealistic daughter Emily (Colette Crochet). So, with the help of a singing Greek chorus made up of two fantastic beings identified as Himself (Jeremy Matthey) and Herself (Aleigha Morton), Jack straightens up and regains his own sense of self, just in time to properly celebrate Christmas.
Getting the hang of this adventure takes some doing, as the cast employs Irish accents that aren't always easy to understand. There are a variety of young elves dancing around the stage that the audience can see but the other actors supposedly can't, which may be unclear to those who aren't familiar with the roots of the story. And the use of fade-outs at the end of nearly every scene interrupts the rhythm of the production.
Still, the audience benefits from Isner's always-credible presence; he's a commanding, believable actor who can make a curiosity seem remarkably plausible. And the hourlong running time keeps the story on track; there are no intruding subplots to detract from the focus on the shoemaker and his family.
Lori Isner's Irish-tinged music suits the tone, as does a homey set that mimics a rustic cottage, right down to a flickering fireplace. And the appearance of Mark Hansen -- one of the Children's Theatre's finest assets -- as Jack's dad, who lovingly and wisely teaches his son the fine points of shoemaking and of being a man, is a welcome sight.
The Elves and the Shoemaker, adapted for the stage and directed by Keith Smith, continues through Dec. 18 at the Children's Theatre, Ninth and Commerce in Little Rock. More information is available by calling (501) 372-4000.
Metro on 12/03/2016