Jack’s Rhyme War

Musical wit and an inventive twist on a familiar fairy tale highlight Santa Monica Playhouse’s perky revival of its family show “Cap’n Jack and the Beanstalk.”

Written by Evelyn Rudie and Chris DeCarlo and directed by Cheryl Jennings, this version of the tale, with its vaguely 18th century England setting, revolves around a would-be seafaring Jack (Martin Barron), his gabby canine pal Daffy (Emily Nella), sharp-tongued, put-upon Mum (Mette Beyer Rubin) and Maggie (Kymberly Johnson), a cute and spirited Irish lass. (All the roles except Jack are double cast; Rachel Galper, Sharon Webster and Alex Cohen perform at some shows.)

Jack’s cow-for-beans trade receives the usual maternal disgust, although one can’t help but wonder if a talking dog might have been more salesworthy. But the seemingly bad bargain has an upside: It’s the catalyst for a lovely ballad, Mum’s wistful wanting of the simple things in life: “a kettle of stew on the hearth,” “imported Dutch cheese for the mice” and, touchingly, “a whole day with nothing to fear, laughter with no tears behind it. . . . “

Rubin is a standout as scolding Mum, keeping her soft side under wraps and a tight rein on her daydreaming son because she doesn’t want him to end up like her adventure-seeking husband: It seems Dad lost his life as well as the family’s singing harp and golden-egg-laying goose when he went off to fight the giants.

Not knowing that each magic bean will deliver a wish, however (a variation on the usual routine), Mum, all riled up, is a bit imprudent with her words and Jack and Daffy find themselves at the top of a beanstalk smack dab in a man-eating giant’s domain.

Luckily, Jack meets the giant’s very Irish human servant, Maggie, who helps the pair out and musically explains her own survival on the possession of Irish luck with comic superiority: “The luck of the Scottish is spottish; the luck of the Finnish is thinnish” and so on.

The giant remains unseen, although his footsteps reverberate (the actors, supposedly being bounced about by the impact, have trouble synchronizing their bounces). His voice is heard, though. It seems this giant loves to rhyme--the familiar “Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum” ditty is just a start.

And, if Jack can best the giant at rhyming, he and his friends will go free. Here, the eager audience is invited to help by calling out rhyming suggestions. Needless to say, the giant doesn’t prevail, although his final, “impossible” rhyme was a bit too easy for last Sunday’s canny crowd.

All in all, the show’s toe-tapping music, gentle humor, quality costuming and assured performances, plus the jewel box charm of the playhouse itself, make this a delightful, traditional-style theater outing for young children. It’s not painful for parents, either.

* “Cap’n Jack and the Beanstalk,” Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., Santa Monica, Saturdays and Sundays, 1 and 3 p.m. through Sept. 28. $8; reservations required. (310) 394-9779, Ext. 2. Running time: 1 hour, 10 minutes.

Book It: Books come to life in the Los Angeles Children’s Museum’s “Reader’s Theatre Project”; shows begin Friday at Santa Monica Place with a “what if?” theme.

* “Reader’s Theatre Project,” Santa Monica Place, Community Room, third level, 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, Fridays, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Ends Sept. 5. Free. (310) 394-5451.