It’s the dog’s meow!
SKIPPYJON JONES SNOW WHAT
Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher St.;
212- 627- 7373. 60 minutes, no intermission. Free tickets; through Aug. 7.
LET’S face it: Any review is irrelevant to the target audience for “Skippyjon Jones Snow What,” which is unlikely to read one. But then, that audience is unlikely to read anything, period.
Like all the offerings from Theatreworks USA, this new musical is aimed at children — in this case, kids ages 4 and older, who don’t need critics to tell them that they’ll enjoy it.
So will the grown ups who go along: This rollicking show isn’t cloying in the least.
Like 2012’ s “Skippyjon Jones,” it’s based on one of Judy Schachner’s popular books about a Siamese kitten who dreams of being a Chihuahua.
This time around, Skippyjon Jones ( Junior Mendez) ends up in a forest, where he meets Los Chimichangos, a merry band of seven Chihuahuas.
Actually, make that four — some of the pups are otherwise occupied. “Seis was here someplace,” explains Poquito Tito ( L. R. Davidson). “He must have stopped to eat some grub.” Right on cue, a giant burp is heard backstage.
Yeah, I laughed like Iwas in pre-K, too.
The plot roughly parallels the Snow White story, complete with a princess, Nieve Qué ( Lexi Rhoades), and a witch, Bruja, whom Christian Perry portrays like Stevie Nicks at a 1990s rave. Skippyjon delivers the princess froma spell that kept her frozen, but turns down her offer to have a litter together, at which point she has an epiphany: “Maybe I don’t need a prince. Perhaps I can take care of myself.”
Kevin Del Aguila and Eli Bolin’s catchy score incorporates up beat Mexican flavors, and the lyrics and book are a witty mix of English and Spanish. “Here goes nada,” our hero says at one point.
And since there are more books in Schachner’s series, we maywell run into those singing Chihuahuas again.
Gracias, guys!