'Junie B. Jones' Musical Makes Off-Broadway Return

By Matt Windman

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2.5 Stars It's deceptively difficult for an adult actor to play a kid. How does one credibly play an 8-year-old without being condescending or breaking into campy behavior? The trick is to take the role seriously. Likewise, when a theater critic writes about children's theater, we take it seriously as a real piece of theater.

"Junie B. Jones," an hour-long musical based on Barbara Park's best-selling children's books, focuses on the title character first-grader as she experiences a new teacher, new classmates and new glasses, all the while recording her adventures in her "Top-Secret Personal Beeswax" journal. Since its New York premiere in 2004, Theatreworks USA has toured the musical throughout the country.

The show doesn't belong in the canon of "Peter Pan," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown," and other musicals that blend seamlessly between children's theater and mainstream musicals. Also, we are extremely disappointed that this production uses a pre-recorded soundtrack instead of a live band. Don't kids deserve live music, too?

Still, this is a bright, entertaining mini-musical with a cute humor, jaunty choreography and melodic, genre-spinning songs. Its composers, Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich, have penned the score of the upcoming Broadway musical "Ever After."

What really makes the storyline special is its emphasis on Junie's affinity for writing. The heartwarming finale, "Writing Down the Story of My Life," encourages young audience members to find a marble notebook, and start writing.

Jen Cody, who is only 4'11", fits perfectly well into the shoes of the show's eager, inquisitive protagonist. Other standouts include Sarah Saltzberg ("25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee") as a snooty first-grader and John Scherer, who plays several adult roles including the adored, hair-netted lunch-lady Gladys Gutzman, famed for her tap-dancing and sugar cookies.

Any five-year-old ought to be proud to call this his first Off-Broadway musical. He or she could definitely do worse like perhaps "The Little Mermaid."

Lucille Lortel Theater, 212 Christopher St, 212-279-4200, $25. Wed-Thurs 2pm, Fri 6pm, Sat 11am, 2pm & 5pm, Sun 11am & 2pm. Thru May 4.

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