Three Bully Goats Gruff and Snow White at West LA's Little Theater

6/17/15 - By Jennifer Cook Nice

How often do I find myself at a loss for what to do with my child between dance and soccer? I only have a little over an hour, but that 60 minutes can be tough for my little one if I don't make the right plans. Sometimes, a simple trip to the library will suffice, but other times I opt for a children's show at the 49-seat Little Theater in West LA, a destination we have previously spotlighted as a great place to capture your youngster's attention.

The two plays currently playing at The Little Theater are Snow White and Three Bully Goats Gruff, and each one runs a little less than an hour.

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Snow White’s audience gets to interact with the actors by helping with wind and raindrop noises and movement. A few lucky volunteers even get to join the actors on stage as dwarves. This show is perfect for the under six crowd. Because the stage is small and props and scenery are minimal, the actors demand the audience’s creativity and imagination to work their magic. None of the kids seem to mind; a whole world is in front of them as they watch the familiar tale of Snow White unfold. The play does make a few updates to the classic story, such as a poisoned comb and some modern terminology, but nothing to rock anyone's princess reality. 

Three Bully Goats Gruff, on the other hand, is for a slightly older crowd - more like ages 5-10.  This update to Three Billy Goats Gruff is a fun spin on the theme of bullying. It’s a very verbose play with references made by the mail woman’s character to the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter as well as a politician looking to meet more potential voters. The female troll is the first bully and the the youngest goat becomes the second bully.  The good message at the end comes from the male troll, who gets everyone to agree that the bridge between to the two pieces of land should be a place for everyone to use and be happy. The middle goat reminds us that it’s not a good idea to be mean and push people off the bridge.

Concessions at The Little Theater range from juice boxes to candy and popcorn. The prices are very reasonable. Because space is tight, you might want to leave the stroller in the car. But if the stroller is a must, there is room to tuck strollers away. 

Children are advised to use the restroom before the show, since it is located behind the stage (meaning one would have to walk onto the stage to get to the restroom). Because it is open seating, getting there 10-15 minutes before the show is a good idea.  The seats are large and comfortable, so if you little one ends up on your lap, parents should be able to remain comfortable.

Buying tickets at the door is usually possible but if you are on the Little Theater mailing list, there are many promotions and discounts on tickets that can be purchased online. You might want to call ahead nonetheless, since tickets are generally cheaper in advance. I always seem to save 50% by going to Goldstar. Check the The Little Theater website frequently for future upcoming children plays.

Snow White and Three Bully Goats Gruff run until Sunday, June 28. Admission is $15 dollars. If the plays are well received, the runs may get extended to show on additional dates.

Three Bully Goats Gruff runs Saturdays and Sundays at 11am.

Snow White runs Saturdays & Sundays at 2pm.

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