I desperately wanted to like the world premiere of the play adaptation of the classic children's book "Goodnight Moon" being staged by Seattle Children's Theatre.



The show had everything going for it as it headed into opening night. It had the following of most theatergoers with young children - like me - who remember fondly the sleepless nights of reading that book in the wee hours of the mornng over and over as their babies nodded off to la-la land. It was a world premiere of a work that has its own mystic and airs about it. It has the mark of turning a significant milestone as the book nears its 60th year of printing. And it has the seal of approval by the SCT, which is not known for staging mediocre work. Until now, that seems.



See, the book is a simple cardboard book that takes about three minutes to read and is almost guaranteed to get baby eyes closed and heads nodding off because of the wonderful cadence the sentences have. The soothing and rhythmic lines by author Margaret Wise Brown and the bold illustrations by Clement Hurd make this poem about a restless bunny on his way to sleep a work of genius.



This play is not much like the book. And I guess it had to be that way; otherwise, the play would be five minutes long. Things simply had to be added. And since the show is for children, it had to have flash and energy to keep their attention. But those features needed for the play ran contrary to the tenor of the book.

Playwright Chad Henry, who also is the play's composer and lyricist, wrote a work with upbeat songs and high-energy dance numbers. Those aren't the fodder normally used to sooth babies to sleep.



The play progresses through mini stories behind each sentence of the book to provide a bit of backstory. It even includes a reading of Brown's other great work, "Runaway Bunny," which tells the tale of a rabbit who thinks of running away only to realize that his mother would follow him and snuggle close wherever he goes. So he doesn't bother. It's actually sort of a sweet story that Henry saw fit to make a bit creepy.



Then the final scene has the sleepy rabbit of "Goodnight" fame reciting the book as he says goodnight to all of the creatures in his room he encountered along his dreamy journey. This is the part I really didn't get since the rabbit is supposed to be going to bed but ends up almost yelling goodnight to the kitten and the mittens and the red house and the little mouse and so on.



This is when the play could have redeemed itself by being true to the story and ending with a lyrical goodnight. It does not.



The play runs at 7 p.m. Friday and at 2 and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Seattle Children's Theatre, located at 201 Thomas St. at Seattle Center.  Tickets are $16 to $32 and available at 206.441.3322 or by visiting www.sct.org. 

"Gone with the Wine"

On another North Sound note, Burien's Breeders Theater is staging "Gone with the Wine" at E.B. Foote Winery that includes some South Sound theater veterans.

Written by local author T.M. Sell, "Gone with the Wine" is a parity on a classic film by a similar name that chronicles life in the Old South, the New West and some points in between.



"While there is something oddly compelling about 'Gone with the Wind,' I think a little bit of it goes a long way," the author says. "We had to do something to get the heroine out of the cotton patch and into another milieu."



The show features the talents of Julie Haakenson, Eric Hartley, Steve Coffey, Marianne Everett, Carlos Calvo, Melissa Grinley, Kelly Johnson, and Luke Amundson.



Amundson hails from Tacoma. Johnson used to live in Olympia before she became sick of the traffic and moved to Seattle, but she still considers Olympia her home turf.



Haakenson lives in north[VP2] Tacoma and is well-known for her work at Lakewood Playhouse, where she did five shows, most recently "Three Musketeers."



"I think what I have learned most from South Sound theater is the importance of the ensemble," she says. "No matter the size of the role, each person on stage is depending on the others to be there. Breeders Theater works as an ensemble with people often playing numerous roles within a show. The connection between the actors needs to be strong and focused to pull off a successful show. In 'Gone with the Wine,' I play Tara, who is the Scarlett character.  I love the opportunity to play a character that is so well-known while being able to make her my own since we're doing such a different script.  I like the arch the character experiences as she goes from selfish party girl to running a successful grape farm.  Since I grew up on a farm, I'm able to apply a lot of my own experiences to the character."



Tickets for the show are $20, which include hors d'oeuvres and tasting of award-winning E.B. Foote wines. Established in 1978, E.B. Foote is one of Washington state's oldest wineries and consistently has won high marks for its red wines such as Merlot, Zinfandel and Bordeaux-style blends.



Shows are Jan. 26, 27, 31 and Feb. 2 and 3 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.); Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. (doors open at 1:30 p.m.); and Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. (to accommodate Super Bowl Sunday; doors open at 12:30 p.m.). 



All proceeds from the Jan. 31 performance will go toward the Breeders Theater performing arts scholarship, which has helped a dozen college students with tuition.  The winery turned theater is located at 127B S.W. 153rd St. in Burien. Call 206.242.3852