There is a misconception in many theater circles that the idea of children’s theater is limited to staging glorified puppet shows and plays about fairy tale princesses or unicorns. There is nothing wrong with that sort of theater, and there are some great works out there that play to younger crowds as they build their interest in theater. But staging works only from that genre under the guise of children’s theater is selling younger audiences short. Children dig mysteries, adventures and dramas as well as fairy tale works. That is not to say that a theater should stage a children’s version of Cabaret or Hair, but something more than one with unicorns could deepen a love of theater in young folks the way a cotton candy show can’t.

Olympia Children’s Theater, an up-and-coming theater in the niche, clearly understands that. Its staging of Korczak’s Children is void of unicorns and happy endings. But it is a great script to get young theatergoers to explore the full range of what theater has to offer.

The play follows the true story of Janusz Korczak, who finds himself operating an orphanage in the Warsaw ghetto during World War II. It is sort of The Diary of Anne Frank, Jacob the Liar and The Pianist all rolled into a children’s production about the spirit to do one’s best in the face of tough times. Korczak is all too aware of what the Nazis are doing to the Jews who are deported from the ghetto, but he has a job to do. He protects the orphans as best as he can while at the same time trying to prepare them for the struggles and mortality that they will face in the days to come. This show is not one where the orphans go off to live happy lives. It ends in tragedy, but it still has moments of humor and messages about community and value-driven living.

Against the rules of the ghetto, he permits his orphans to stage a magical play — The Post Office — to teach them about the one adult subject he has not yet broached with them: death. As the play is rehearsed, the rumors become reality, and Korczak must decide who can be saved and who must go on the final journey together. This is a show to watch even if there aren’t children in your life. It is a great script and a great story.



[Minnaert Center, Korczak’s Children, through Feb. 1, 7 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, $8-$15, South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road. S.W., Olympia, 360.570.1638, olyft.org]



Steve Dunkelberger has covered the South Sound theater scene for 14 years.  He can be reached at viewfromthecheap seats@bigfoot.com or at his virtual voice mail at 320.216. 5007.