Theater Review
Clever Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle returns to the stage at Seattle Children's Theatre

By Misha Berson
Seattle Times theater critic

	CHRIS BENNION In the Seattle Children's Theatre musical "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle," the title character (Jayne Muirhead, center) is a magical woman who has novel ways of dealing with challenging children. The ensemble cast includes (from left) Alban Dennis, Hugh Hastings, Lisa Estridge-Gray and Leslie Law.
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She's back!

You know — that hoop-skirted neighborhood lady with the funny name? And the smart-alecky pet parrot and the upside-down house? And a surefire cure for every annoying childhood behavioral problem?

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has indeed returned to the stage of the Seattle Children's Theater. And she is working her sly magic again in an encore run of the delightful Chad Henry musical for young folk, "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle."

Know a kid who won't take baths? Try the Piggle-Wiggle cure depicted here: Let the dirt accumulate on her skin, then turn her into a walking radish patch. What about a child who keeps sassing parents? Bring home that blabby parrot, whose own rudeness could shame a rattlesnake into politeness.

There are also cures on display for extreme klutziness, dawdling and acute "fraidy-cat" anxieties. And Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle does wonders without once resorting to spankings, tongue-lashings, medications or "time outs."

Theater review "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle," 7 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through June 13 at Seattle Children's Theater, Seattle Center. Tickets: $14-$26. Limited $10 rush tickets available Friday nights. (Note: There will be an American Sign Language interpreted performance at 2 p.m., May 8.) Tickets and information: 206-441-3322 or www.sct.org.

This is SCT's fourth production of the show, which is based on the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle storybooks created by Northwest author Betty MacDonald. And you might think that by now — half a century after the first "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle" tome was first published, and 15 years since SCT's initial run of Henry's well-traveled musical adaptation — there would be some kind of statute of limitation on this wholesome helping of irreverent mirth.

Like all durable children's literature, however, the "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle" tales seem to appeal as much to youngsters discovering them today, as they did to me in my own girlhood. And Henry's musical, with its chipper songs, buoyant humor and friendly slapstick, is still as enjoyable as — well, as eating a batch of s'mores, one of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's favorite treats.

	Alan Bruce Becker and Alban Dennis in the Seattle Children's Theatre musical production of "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle," running through June 13.

Henry and director Linda Hartzell have tweaked the piece a bit since "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle" last appeared at SCT, in 1995.

Some songs and scenes are new; others have been excised. That shouldn't matter a jot, though, to the little ones taking in Hartzell's lively staging for the first time. (It's suitable for kids ages 5 and up, and probably most appropriate for those 10 and under.)

Jennifer Lupton's bi-level set (with upside-down accents) still functions well, as do the colorful costumes by Scott R. Gray and Douglas N. Paasch's puppet effects. And four members of the dandy singing-acting-dancing ensemble are returning for their second or even third go-round in the show: Hugh Hastings, Leslie Law, Kevin C. Loomis and Alban Dennis.

This is Jayne Muirhead's first crack at playing Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, and she does so with dryly humorous verve. Also on board: Lisa Estridge-Gray, Alan Bruce Becker and Alyssa Keene, whose lovely singing voice is a big plus.

	CHRIS BENNION The Seattle Children's Theatre's musical "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle" uses upbeat songs, dance moves and slapstick humor to teach children lessons about being kind, helpful and well-behaved.

Henry's upbeat tunes (in waltz-time, march-time and other accessible formats) are accompanied on piano by musical director David Duvall. And the dances, choreographed by Marianne Roberts, include a winning parody of classical ballet.

Is there a message to be gleaned from "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle"? Actually, words of wisdom are sprinkled throughout. For instance: "Daydreaming is normal and healthy. It's the sign of a vivid imagination."

And a personal favorite to share with a whining child: "Only boring people get bored!"

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com.

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