Theater Online - New York Theater Reviews

     If you've got visiting nieces or nephews in town, or you're stuck babysitting two to eight year-olds and aren't sure how to adequately entertain them yourself, or you became a parent yesterday and your -- wait, actually, I hope you're not reading this today if you became a parent yesterday-- but you get the point. The point is Sitters Studios' HELP WANTED: PIRATES! is an engaging day of theater appropriate for the whole family.

     Running a mere 45 minutes, the show is the perfect length. Children will not only get an up close and personal view of a pirate ship complete with barrells, buckets, birds and other "B" words I'm forgetting (designed by Edward Ross) plus spot-on, elaborate costumes designed by Shawn Sturdevant, but by the end of the 45 minutes they'll have journeyed to the lobby to create a pirate stew (yuck“ Or yum? I guess it depends if you like worms and boots) and will have participated in a pirate runway walk-- the best part of the show for adults. How can you have a beating heart and not laugh (with! Not at!) when child after child takes the stage, eyepatch handy, and with varrying levels of confidence announce "aargh!" to their iPhone snapping parents? Answer: you can't. You can't have a heart and not soak in the joy of these kids in this moment.

     Marykate Burke's direction is swift and smooth while the performances are spirited and...pirate-y. James David Larson is an exceptional leading man, playing Captain Squid. Fresh off a "Spamalot" tour, Larson is a talented actor, singer and dancer who has a long career ahead of him. Eric Williams offers a nice contrast as the evil Nigel Wright although surprisingly he is more effective in his flashback scene with Larson (the adorable "Why do We befriend a Friend") than he is at playing a villain. (This is children's theatre, Mr. Williams- ham it up! We need someone to hate!).

     Elizabeth Twatchman and Amber Lee Grant are delightful as Crabby and Shabby. Some of their focus and clarity may go unnoticed but these two really keep this whole ship afloat as they direct the audience to the next sequences of the show.

     Miles Alexander provides a Caribbean charm to Kokomo Joe. Children will love his accent although Alexander could certainly utilize much stronger diction and volume for a sharper performance.

     Best of all is Jessica Kaufman as Toby. She's given the most to do in the book and she nails it. She's lively, funny and has that WHAM-BAM spirit that a show like this needs.

   Jen Littlefield's choreography, while not mind boggling, does the job but don't come looking for "Anything Goes." J. Sebastian Fabal's music is cute and fun ("Befriend," "Like a Pirate") while Chris Widney's book and lyrics are fine if forgettable ("Pirate Stew," "There Comes a Time.").

     HELP WANTED: PIRATES! runs until July 8 at the Magnet Theatre.