The Princess & The Pea & Dialogue My Kids Can’t Stop Saying.

You’re gonna want to step lively for this one:

Chicago Kids Company’s The Princess & The Pea at The Beverly Arts Center (a gorgeous venue, by the by), is a throwback to vaudevillian song n’ dance theatre. With more patter, hilarious asides, and slapstick than you can ding a rimshot at, this show is enthralling for the 2-12 set (and just as much fun for their accompanying grownups).

Princess Penelope wanders into the castle of a possessive Queen of a Mama (and her son who just wants to grow up and get married, once he kicks the juice box habit). The princess is cool. The prince digs her. But there’s that problem of the Queen, who wants to keep her baby boy her baby boy. (No comment from the peanut gallery, yeah?) To buy time- and dissuade her son- she issues a series of challenges that any “real princess” could easily do.

Spoiler: One of them involves a 12-foot bed and a teensy tinesy legume.

The princess is a youthful and energetic ball of girl power- with an entire song, in fact, touting the merits of playing outside and how she can do anything a boy can. (Yay!) But there’s no weak link- or character- in this cast. The Queen Mum is likable and juuust conniving enough to make her a gentle (and easily atoned) “bad guy,” her son the Prince is affably helpless, and the two court jesters had bits so funny that they’re still in rotation among my girls. (Come over sometime and drop the line “Say whaaaat?” See what happens.)

Also? There’s a dance break. A dance competition, really. I’ve said too much. See this adorable and thoroughly entertaining show before the last production is tucked in- on November 26th, so hurry!

For what it’s worth, my girls specifically asked to hug the cast after the curtain call.

And for what it’s worth, my girls specifically lost their minds when they did so.

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