Musical Rumplestiltskin good as gold

Rumplestiltskin spun gold out of old wool at Friday night’s opening of the musical fairy tale at the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theater.

The 75-minute show would brighten any season for the Little Rock troupe. Friday night’s audience gave a standing ovation to this creative retelling about the miller’s daughter, the heap of straw and the king’s demand that she do the impossible. But only the “evil dwarf ” Rumplestiltskin can do that, and he keeps many secrets — most of all his tongue-twister of a name.

Nate Plummer heads the four-member adult cast in the title role. His Rumplestiltskin is a “little man” only because the story says so. Even stooping, he is taller than the girl he taunts. He makes a grand and scary entrance, singing that he wants a child “that looks just like me.” Ragged and pale, that is — like Nosferatu, Gollum and Stephen King’s Pennywise the clown. He might not get the baby, but he runs off with the show.

Lauren Linton as the waif-turned-queen, John Isner as her poor father and Mark Hansen as the gruff king do a 24-carat job of filling out the stage.

Keith Smith’s script and Lori Isner’s music make uncommon demands of everyone. This could have been a flippant romp about the girl trying to guess Rumplestiltskin’s name. But they and director Bradley Anderson spin it more like an operatic tragedy.

Rumplestiltskin has his side of things, after all: He is scared of dying alone and all for nothing, a sympathetic monster. His only answer is steal the royal baby.

Old versions of the rumpled tale are gruesome going. The Brothers Grimm version of Rumplestiltskin is so angry at losing, he blames the devil. He tears himself in two — a scene better suited to Freddy Krueger than to children’s theater.

This version goes easier on him. But he throws a mean stomping fit, and guess what? Back for more is the name of the game.

Rumplestiltskin continues through Feb. 8 at the Children’s Theater. General admission is $12.50. More information is available at arkarts.com or by calling (501) 372-4000.