Remember The Little Prince, that thin blue book with a curious little boy standing atop a moon on its cover? You can now see The Little Prince onstage at the Round House Theatre until Dec. 10. The Round House succeeds in transforming the timeless story by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry into a unique live performance.
The Little Prince tells the story of the Aviator, a man who crashes his plane in the middle of the Sahara Desert. There he meets the imaginative Little Prince, who claims to hail from an unknown star, regales the Aviator with stories of his adventures and yearns to get back to his love, the Rose.
Under the direction of Eric Ting, the theatrical version by John Scoullar and Rick Cummins is interpreted surprisingly well in the Round House Theatre’s intimate stage. The magic behind Saint-Exupéry’s story is translated visually through a childlike but not childish stage design by James Kronzer.
The play is performed by only four people, with three of them depicting multiple roles. The actors’ abilities to switch between their extremely different roles are impressive, making the play believable.
The chemistry between the Aviator (Craig Wallace) and the Prince (Jamie Klassel) was superb. The relationship takes on an almost father-son quality as the two become attached, but oftentimes, Wallace seems too overpowering in his role. However, Wallace’s role as the Fox brought out his comedic side, and the most memorable scene in the play is between the Fox and the Prince.
In this scene, the Prince discovers the Fox and attempts to tame him; playful banter creates a solid connection between the two. This is a pivotal moment in the play as the pair teach each other how to love – the act of taming the Fox becomes an act of trust that teaches the Prince the importance of his one and only Rose.
But the play’s supporting actors also work well, as Elaine Qualter personifies the Rose in a beautifully crafted costume designed by Kate Turner-Walker. And the most memorable roles in The Little Prince were acted by Jen Plants, who plays the eight different men the Prince meets along his journey. Plants’ roles include the King, the Conceited Man and the Geographer and last no longer than a few minutes each, but her flamboyant comedic style works in her favor.
Although written as a children’s book, The Little Prince is adapted well into a play that appeals to both young and old. While most of the overdone acting and cartoonish sets were obviously targeted to capture the minds of the younger audience, the comedy and the themes behind The Little Prince give any adult a lot to be intrigued by.
The Little Prince is a great theatrical escape and brings back to us essential pieces of human nature: finding our own identities and someone to love them. The Round House Theatre’s production of The Little Prince allows us to once again appreciate the beautifully subtle reminder of innocence.
Contact reporter Doris Nhan at nhandbk@gmail.com.
