ON THEATER: Playhouse presents ‘Princess’

Formerly well-heeled theatergoers now pinching pennies to make ends meet in today’s economy will be able to identify with the heroine of the Laguna Playhouse Youth Theater’s upcoming production.

“A Little Princess,” opening May 8 for a two-weekend engagement, focuses on Sara Crewe, a young girl born in London and raised in India by her world-traveling father. When Dad becomes bankrupt, she’s reduced from enormous wealth to terrible poverty virtually overnight.

At the private school where she had been a privileged student, Sara now is forced to work as a servant. “But,” notes director Kelly Herman, “Sara has a loving heart and a quick imagination, and she knows that with the right spirit she can remain a princess inside.”

The play is an adaptation from the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, who also gave young readers “The Secret Garden” and “Little Lord Fauntleroy.”

Two adults and two teenage actors from Laguna Beach are among the cast of “A Little Princess.” The grown-ups are Claire Day and Charlie McClung, while Gianna Cancelliere and Ellie Spurlock are the teens.

Performances of “A Little Princess” will be given at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, and at 1 and 5 p.m. Sundays, with special student school matinees at 10 a.m. May 14 and 15. Tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for children. Reservations may be obtained by calling the playhouse at (949) 497-2787.

Golf tourney coming

You can get teed off and help the Laguna Playhouse at the same time May 29 at the Youth Theater’s ninth charity golf tournament, auction and dinner. Sponsored by the Laguna Playhouse Parents Assn., the event benefits the playhouse’s Youth Theater programs and will be at the Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa Margarita.

The tournament begins at 1 p.m. and will include prizes for golfers landing closest to the pin and hitting the longest drive. Dinner and a silent auction will follow, beginning at 6 p.m.

Registration for the golf tournament is $175 per player, or $600 for a team of four. Non-golfing guests may attend the dinner and performance for $40. Contact Suzanne White at (949) 497-2787, ext. 217, or e-mail Bill Parker at [email protected] for reservations.

TOM TITUS reviews local theather for the Coastline Pilot.