"Little Red"

A children 's musical by Val Benson, Starring Kim Weston and introducing Lisa Stone.  Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2pm at the Langston Hughes Theater.

     I must start out by saying that Little Red is quite unlike any "children's entertainment" l've ever seen.  Most young people's stuff, even the good, isn't equally fascinating to adults.  Little Red is.

     The idea of the play is that Little Red Riding Hood has been updated to 1975 , and instead of being in the woods, she's in Detroit.  Actually, she lives on the west side, you see, and she has to take the Dexter bus to Grandma's house, which is in Lafayette Park.

     So instead of dealing with the hundred-year-old white reality of Red Riding Rood, we've got the l975 black reality of Little Red.  And, iust so you don't forget you're in Detroit:  The Director's (Val Benson's) husband is one of the Four Tops (Obie Benson), the Musical Director (Andre Moore) has written hit songs for Gladys Knight and The Pips, and the mother and the grandmother are both played by WCHB's own Kim Weston, star of the show.

     And, best of all, this musical is really a musical.  I mean it's mostly music (and the play is at least an hour-and-a-half long), and this is where "children's entertainment" never had it so good.  The song credits include both of the Bensons and both Weston and Moore, in addition to Carolyn Franklin, Ivy Joe Hunter, and Ronnie McNair.

     The point is, people, that these aren't just tunes, they're hip, modern, R&B tunes as well as being everything else children's songs are to start with.  The music, competently played by The Hastings Street Jazz Revival, is just as solid and the songs are sung with as much energy as l've seen anywhere.

     But I'm 26 years old, and this is supposed to be a children's play.

     Well, judging by the reactions of three young theater critics I talked to (aged 8, 5 1/2, and 5 1/2 respectively) I'd have to say Little Red was a smash success.  They agreed that they had never seen anything quite like it, either; in fact, I can attest that they were riveted to their seats during the entire performance, something which has, indeed, never occurred before.

     My young critic friends also made special mention of actress Lisa Stone, and rightfully so.  Nine-year-old Lisa plays "Little Red" and sings, sings, sings.  She has become, in fact, something of a heroine to the three young reviewers, and I doubt if they'll ever forget her.

     Neither will you, if you see her.  Take the whole family, please.

                                  -Frank Bach