VASSILISA THE WISE
The tales of Vassilisa date back nearly a thousand years and have been passed down orally in Russian households from generation to generation. In his adaptation Louis H. Anders III (author of The Raccoon Agenda and Joe’s Handy Guide to Revolution Made E-Z) mixes in some quirky contemporary references, adds a large portion of goofiness, and comes up with an entertaining and uplifting bit of theater for kids of all ages.
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Most of the cast captures the cartoonish style of Anders’s adaptation well, generating some genuinely funny and delightful moments. But as the director, Anders should have exerted more control over his actors and given his lead more room to create her character. Instead he lets SpitzNagel and Harless run free onstage. They are two powerfully creative actors but they’re also irresponsible, adding funny bits of shtick without any consideration for the other actors or the shape and focus of each scene.
