A stroke of magic and Mozart for the youngest music lovers

“The potty’s down there. It’s a big one, you’ll like it.”

Not something you’d expect to hear during an opera outing at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

With Mozart on the program, neither would you expect to see tables full of glue sticks, scissors, ink markers and construction paper in the lobby of this venerable classical arts institution. The 400-plus theatergoers at the theater on Saturday morning, however -- mostly preschoolers to third-graders with their parents and grandparents -- saw nothing amiss.

After an hour’s worth of artsy crafts and an introduction to the history and music of the flute by musician-educator Damon Zick, these audience members -- in their decorated crowns, toting their googly-eyed snakes and paper chickens-on-a-stick puppets -- were well-prepped for the Los Angeles Opera’s presentation of “The Magic Dream,” an hourlong romp inspired by Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.”

The first of three presentations in the company’s new “Saturday Mornings at the Opera” children’s series, this immensely appealing introduction to operatic storytelling was performed beneath the glittering chandeliers in the sunny Grand Hall, where children perched on cushions, adults sat on folding chairs and the stage area was formed by set designer Lisa Stone’s brightly painted set pieces that included a big red “CD player” to frame the action.

First came an introduction by Mozart (actor Tony Roman), who thought he might call his new opera “The Magic Boot” until he was clued in by a chorus of piping voices from the audience.

Then came the frothy opera-lite. Based on Mozart’s themes by composer Lee Holdridge with a comic libretto by Richard Sparks, it was set in the dream of a young girl (soprano Heather Calvete), who fell asleep listening to “The Magic Flute.”

As often happens in dreams, things got a bit surreal, as she was chased by a giant cheeseburger and the handsome hero (Kevin Hafenstein) was the prize in a “Let’s Make an Opera” game show. Yet for all the silliness, the operatic elements remained paramount.

The young audience members, when they weren’t giggling or clapping, watched in rapt silence, a testament to the deft control of director Stanley M. Garner, the engaging musicians (on flute, synthesizer, piano and percussion) and the six youthful professional singers.

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Saturday Mornings at

the Opera

Where: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A.

When: March 20 (“The Prospector”) and May 15 (“Journey to Cordoba”) at 11 a.m.; arts workshops, 10 a.m.

Price: $12

Contact: (213) 972-8001