“The True Story of the Three Little Pigs”
WHERE: Mathile Theatre, Schuster Center, Second and Ludlow streets, Dayton
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 19-21
TICKETS: $10 to $15 in advance, $15 only the day of the show.
MORE INFO: (937) 228-3630 or www.ticketcenterstage.com
DAYTON — A plaintiff like the Big Bad Wolf is bound to attract media attention, so why not move his trial downtown?
That must be the thinking of Town Hall Theatre, which is changing its usual venue from Washington Twp. in the southern reaches of Montgomery County to present “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” in the Schuster Center’s Mathile Theatre today through Sunday, Nov. 19-21.
The wolf goes on trial during the musical by Robert Kauzlaric, Paul Gilvary and William Rush, which was adapted from the story of the same name by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. It’s recommended for ages 4 and older. Running time is just 60 minutes. There’s no intermission.
The audience gets to be the jury and decide the fate of Alexander T. Wolf, his real name. Is he just a misunderstood carnivore with a cold, as he claims? Piggsylvania’s highest court wants a decision once and for all with Judge Prudence Pig presiding.
Songs include “It’s a Piggy World” and “Cheeseburgers Ain’t Cute.”
”The True Story” is Town Hall’s second production at the Mathile, an intimate, “black-box” theater tucked into the Ludlow and Second streets corner of the Schuster. It received a grant from the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District to perform there. The first was “Stellaluna.”
“The idea is to expand our outreach program, in which mainstage shows are retooled for short tours to local elementary schools, hospitals and other locations,” Town Hall managing director Mark Metzger said. The presentations in the Schuster’s Impact Series “allow us to reach a new audience. As part of it, we offer a free performance to Dayton Public Schools through the Victoria Theatre Association’s Education Outreach program.”
Metzger said the musical is entertaining for adults, as well. “Watching C.J. Suchyta as the Wolf doing a James Brown interpretation might be my favorite moment. The story works best as a reminder that we should all avoid jumping to conclusions without all the facts. But I still think the wolf is guilty.”
CONTACT this reporter at (937) 225-2377 or tmorris@coxohio.com.
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