Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Young King’ makes for a enjoyable present — with an ethical — for youngsters, in Hoboken

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From left, “The Young King” forged members Joe Bliss, Jasmine Hawkins, Mikey Miller and Lindsay Thurber.

If you solely know Oscar Wilde because the playwright who wrote “The Importance of Being Earnest” and landed in jail for loving the flawed particular person, you might not notice that he additionally turned out a few of the most haunting fairy tales of the Victorian Era. One of them, “The Young King,” has been resurrected at Hoboken’s Mile Square Theatre — not as stuffy literature, however as an interactive children’ present that tickles the creativeness and entertains even because it teaches a lesson on wealth and entitlement.

The setup is simple: A poor waif learns that he’s royalty and is plucked from his easy woodland dwelling and dropped into palace life. Before the curtain even rises, the viewers is pulled into the pageant — posters in an anteroom clarify the dominion’s industries (pearls from the ocean, gold from the mills, jewels from the mines) and children get to craft their very own crowns within the foyer earlier than becoming a member of the coronation parade into the theater. It’s not “sit down and watch” as a lot as “come play with us.”

Mikey Miller leads the small, energetic forged because the wide-eyed Young King, whereas Joe Bliss, Jasmine Hawkins and Lindsay Thurber juggle a number of roles with the keenness of camp counselors operating on juice packing containers and adrenaline. The viewers turns into a part of the motion, providing items and reacting to cues — which retains even the wiggliest children glued to their seats. The quick operating time received’t pressure the younger’uns’ consideration spans, both.

From left, Mikey Miller, Joe Bliss, Jasmine Hawkins and Lindsay Thurber in “The Young King.”

Wilde’s ethical, although, cuts deeper than the sparkly set items. On the eve of his coronation, the Young King endures a collection of vividly staged nightmares that strip the shine off his new riches — visions of ravenous staff, grasping retailers and little one laborers paying the worth for royal luxurious. He learns the place the pearls and rubies and superb embroidery come from, and who pays the worth.

The present doesn’t linger on these darkish moments, however they could show a bit intense for pre-schoolers. Grades 1 to 4 appear preferrred. When the time comes for the Young King to take the throne … effectively, this can be a fairy story, however let’s simply say that rubies, pearls and gold brocade aren’t everybody’s cup of tea.

The manufacturing makes artistic use of Mile Square’s compact stage — panels transfer and swing, packing containers rework into bits of imagined surroundings, and some intelligent projections and shadow puppets carry every little thing from the royal palace to the deep woods to life. Of the forged, Thurber stands out, pulling actual emotion from her twin roles because the King’s tragic mom and a determine in his disturbing desires. Director Misti B. Wells performs magic with the intricate choreography of the set, however a lot of the performances err on the aspect of the broad — assume costumed princesses and mascots you meet at theme parks. This works superb for the elementary-school set, however might depart adults quietly checking their watches.

Judging from opening evening, although, the children have been all in — laughing, cheering, gasping, and marching out with crowns askew and imaginations lit. It’s an hour that can give kids their first actual style of reside theater, freed from Disney gloss however filled with marvel. And dad and mom will be ok with bringing them. Couples who aren’t dad and mom … perhaps save this one for when and in the event you do have children.

The Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken will current “The Young King” although March 8; go to milesquaretheatre.org.

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