‘Brats’ Leaves a Smile

Theater Review

If you want to spend an hour with a smile on your face that is impossible to wipe off because the cast is so doggone cute, than bolt to Theatre Palisades to watch the youth production of the West Coast premiere of ‘Brats in Space’ by Stephen Flowers. There are only three performances left, Friday, March 9 at 7:30p.m., Saturday, March 10 at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 11 at 2 p.m. Additionally, if you are looking for a first-time theater experience for children under six, this show is the perfect fit. With less than an hour runtime, constant movement and colorful costumes, this show is a great opportunity for parents to expose young children to live theater. A new substitute teacher, Ms. Nervin (Nicole Harlan) wanders through the audience looking for her classroom’little does she know she’s about to face one of the most disruptive classes in the school. Harlan does a nice job of trying to take control of a terrible classroom, which includes students Suzy (Reilly Pressman), Priscilla (Jenna Handler), Tim (Brendan Welch), Brad (Gabe Ross), Kelly (Helena Steuch), Franky (Lauren Bernstein) and Justin (Rafe Israel), but once her attempts fail Principal Wright, played ably by Bronte Sorotsky, tells them they’ve been selected to be part of a new space program ‘Students in Space.’ Possibly the sweetest voice ever to grace the Theatre Palisades stage came from Professor Stevens (8-year-old Gracie Evans), who is in charge of the rocket ship that blasts the students into space. After crash landing on planet Nomadis, they meet Queen Europa (Katherine Kedeshian) and the bratty aliens, I O (Jacob Curran), Ganymede (Mia Ruhman), Callisto (Daniela Renzo), Sinope (Caroline Kedeshian), J23 (Gigi Pressman) and Ann (Sophie Landau). Particularly amusing as Leda and Mneme were sisters Haley and Chelsea Worrell, with their almost perfect Valley Girl attitudes. Initially there is some confusion about who are the true aliens, but once the children sort that out, the Americans and Nomadis ban together to fight the monster that plagues the planet. ‘Home,’ a duet with Brendan Welch and Katherine Kedeshian, showcases their lovely voices. Dorothy Dillingham Blue, who has directed numerous Theatre Youth Productions, chose ‘Brats in Space’ because ‘one-act musicals with characters the kids can relate to and songs that are catchy are few and far between.’ Flowers came to California to specifically see the West Coast premiere of his musical. ‘He was thrilled with the show and we had a lively Q&A session after Saturday’s performance,’ Blue said. ‘It was clear to all who attended that he enjoys his work as a music teacher and his students are lucky to have him as a mentor.’ The costumes are a real ‘kick’ and as Blue said, ‘Holly Leff-Pressman was our costume guru and really outdid herself this time.’ Tickets ($14) can be purchased online at theatrepalisades.org or at the Pierson Playhouse box office at 941 Temescal Canyon Rd.