Stimulus play entertains kids

Surrounded by a fairyland of candy and gingerbread, Stimulus Children's Theater performed Hansel and Gretel at the Castle for more than 50 children from the Penn Parent Infant Center and after-school program. The show began as the forest fairy sprinkled magic dust over the captivated children. And the audience watched, entranced as Stimulus, in conjunction with the Castle, put on their first-ever winter production. Designed to encourage audience participation, the production involved the children by asking them questions and teaching them about different aspects of the theater. The production tried to relate to the young audience by showing Hansel and Gretel's reluctance to do work over their "summer vacation" and the character's dislike of spinach. Hansel's inept dancing and silly antics amused the kids and the taunts of the evil witch made them scared. Many shouts came from the crowd as the witch said she wanted to "make children plump and then eat them." During the performance, the children tried in vain to warn Hansel and Gretel about the evil witch and howled at their capture. "Stimulus' goal is to bring performing arts to the children of West Philadelphia who wouldn't normally be exposed to theater," said the show's director, College freshman Kim Noble. This is the group's 12th show since 1987. College freshman Ben Berman, who played the role of Hansel, described the show as "pure fun." "Children are the perfect audience because they become so engaged," he said. One child remarked he liked the show because "they let me eat candy off the gingerbread house." Stimulus will perform Hansel and Gretel again tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Castle.