Hip and clever, wonderfully silly, "The Big Bad Wolf Musical" staged last weekend by the vibrant Caroline Community Theatre made for a delightful, refreshing show.
The play told the story of a make-believe trial of the Big Bad Wolf charged with "Three Counts of Huffing and Puffing With Intent to Destroy," eating the sheep belonging to The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf, and swallowing Little Red Riding Hood and her granny (who return to life to testify because they are "immortal characters").
The production featured talented, funny performances by a nice mix of adult and children actors directed by Angie Washington, a gifted comedian herself whose humor infused the show.
Leading the cast was Michael Howard as "Big Bad Wolf." Portrayed as a 50's greaser with a wolf tail, black nose and furry chest, Michael made the wolf consistently amusing and alternately menacing, cowardly, desperate and dumb – howling well.
Following him around were four "Wolfettes" – Gracie Chewning, Lydia Dolvin, Selena Hubbard and Lilly Lester, too cute to be too bad. The "Mini-Bad Wolf" played by Jack Mathews briefly stole the show as he escorted "Grandmother Hood" to and from the witness stand wearing his Cub Scout suit ("Wolf" rank).
Defending the Big Bad Wolf against all charges was the "Evil Stepmother" played by Kelly Crisafulli. A Manhattan attorney in a black pants suit, spike heels and oozing attitude, the "Evil Stepmother," as Kelly skillfully played her straight, was a vampy Valley Girl rolling her eyes with exasperation and petulantly demolishing testimony. (She was in a bad mood because she'd been up late supervising her stepdaughter cleaning cinders out of the fireplace.)
The judge for these zany proceeding was David Chewning, decked out in a long judge's robe minus trousers and wearing a magisterial English wig. Swearing in testimony on a book of fairy tales with the words "So help you, Hans Christian Andersen," David gave the judge a fun silliness that kept the show nicely stirred up.
The prosecuting attorney was "Fairy Godmother" Carmela Hofstee, festooned with fairy wings and strong in upright attitude. Her song "He (the wolf) Ain't Gonna Come Around No More" was a delight with all the characters bouncing around the stage.
A news anchor kept up the narration and was played with excellent stage presence, a good clear voice – and pleasing singing voice – by Debbie Whiteside.
Other notables included "The Three Little Pigs" played zestily by Summer Simulcik, Katie Mathews and Kayla Newton – cute in their pig noses and farmers' suspenders.
Damion Washington shone as "Bill Woodcutter" who was snooping around Grandmother Hood's home before he axed the Big Bad Wolf. His testimony was wrecked by the Evil Stepmother.
Wes Dolvin as the "Shepherd" was cleverly done up in Biblical shepherd's robes while his bratty kid, "The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf," was a punk with a blue spike Mohawk. Both were a lot of fun.
Eva Simulcik played the neurotic pyschiatrist "Little Miss Muffit" who ran screaming from the court because she didn't have a "tuffit" to sit on. She was a good screamer.
Victoria Washington portrayed "Little Red Riding Hood" with a flowing red cape and was an excellent skipper. Her granny, "Grandmother Hood" played by Carolanne Whiteside, was a model of granniness.
The last element of the cast was the audience who cheered for a guilty verdict and then cheered just as loud for a not-guilty verdict.
This put the judge in a quandary. But after swallowing a few "Magic Beans," he pronounced the Big Bad Wolf guilty, fined him 50 million gold coins and brought this fun show to a just end, since nobody was really eaten – or axed – after all.

Auditions for Caroline Community Theatre's next show are at 7 p.m. August 11 and 12. Auditions are cold readings from the script of the comedy "Leading Ladies." The script requires five men and three women. Actors should be 16 years old or older.
The show is about two Shakespearean actors down on their luck who hear of a little old lady about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost nephews. The two actors resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. The trouble is, they find out that the relatives aren't nephews, but nieces!
The first performance is Friday, October 3 at 8:00 p.m. On Saturday, there will be a dinner at 6:45 p.m. (reservations required) with the show at 8 p.m. The last show is Sunday at 4:00 p.m.