Priscilla’s Perfect Day

Priscilla’s Perfect Day is an adorable family musical by husband and wife team Richard Levinson and Diana Martin, currently playing at the Lonnie Chapman Group Repertory Theatre in North Hollywood. And it is absolutely delightful.

Eleven-year-old Priscilla Penelope Periwinkle (Courtney DeCosky) can't wait for her family to start their summer vacation at her great aunt's cottage in Maine. The plan is perfect. Her father (Stephen Simon) will be spending some quality time with her annoying little brother Billy (Matt Valle), keeping both he and their dog Roscoe (Victor Isaac) from getting in her way, and her mother (Natascha Aldridge) is going to relax and spend her time reading. That leaves budding young artist Priscilla with plenty of time to cozy up in her newly decorated bedroom in the attic and wander the shore painting to her heart's content. Unfortunately, she wakes to rain the first full day of the trip and her crayons have mysteriously disappeared... Roscoe!? Luckily Priscilla discovers some of her Great Aunt Phoebe's crayons (yes, talent runs in the family) and, making the best of the situation, decides to instead paint her perfect day, complete with sunshine and trees and everything that makes her happy.

Suddenly a very hungry Billy and Roscoe crash into her room and ask her to make them blueberry pancakes since mom and dad are still asleep. After all, their neighbor Mr. Berrymore (Brian Wallis) did bring them a bucket of blueberries when they arrived at the cottage and it is their first big day. Before they can get to it, however, the three are magically whisked away into the picture that Priscilla has drawn and find themselves on a search for how to get back.

Dancing clams, the Loch “Mess” Lobster, and a very blueberry Elvis Presley all make appearances in this dreamlike cartoon world and ultimately it's teamwork that gets them back home; that and Priscilla's ability to draw everything right again.

One always wonders if a theatrical performance will hold the attention of the children in the audience and this show was clearly a hit. They were so quiet you could hear a pin drop as DeCosky sang her ballad, “I Can Draw The Perfect Day” and they laughed and cheered with gusto during the chase scene and other fun sequences.

Most of the talented cast members come from the Sacred Fools company of actors, and director Jeremy Aldridge, along with choreographer Michele Bernath, has put together a show that both children and adults will find engaging and fun. Add Levinson's catchy tunes and you'll leave singing “Pancakes For Roscoe” too, as you make your way to the green room for a real pancake breakfast and crafts for the kids after the show.

Catch this one quick!

“Priscilla's Perfect Day” is pure entertainment for kids of all ages.

Catawba Club Productions in association with The Group Rep, happily presents the delightful, family-friendly, musical “Priscilla's Perfect Day” as a perfect way for kids (and grownups) to kick off their summer vacation.

It has everything you could wish for; a charming story with a little bit of shivers, singing and dancing (accompanied by writer & pianist, Richard Levinson), fun costumes, a sister and brother, a mom and dad, a very funny dog, and a box of magical crayons. Oh, and did I mention the yummy warm pancakes, cold lemonade AND crafts that you will find backstage after the show?

Playwright Diana Martin (who also plays the Mother Clam) introduces the story then lets the characters take over. Eleven-year-old pretty and precocious Priscilla (played with charm by Courtney DeCosky - who is a deal more than eleven, but you believe her anyway) begins by reading the typical school report, “How I spent my summer vacation.”

Her account begins just as the family arrives at their coastal Maine cottage. Priscilla - a budding young artist - hopes to draw many beautiful pictures while she's there, starting with the sun setting on the sea in their little inlet. Her Mom (the radiant and very pregnant, Natascha Aldridge) hopes to relax and read. Her Dad (Stephen Simon) plans to spend some quality time with Billy, her little brother (Matt Valle).

Oh, yes... her brother. Typical of little brothers, Billy is pesky, silly, loud, hyper, clumsy and forever hungry. In “My Bratty Little Brother,” Priscilla sings “How can one boy take so much joy... and annoy?” Matt, like Courtney, plays a little kid so convincingly, you forget he's probably in his twenties.

The last member of the family on this idyllic summer trip is Billy's dog, Roscoe, played wondrously, creatively, and hilariously by Victor Isaac. Roscoe is a scene-stealer when he's active. (He sleeps a lot, often in places where people trip over him.) Isaac has a dog's wiggly movements, joyous barks, and rascally ways down pat. Bravo!

Before bedtime, Dad begins a scary story about the local Loch Ness Lobster (handed down from Great Aunt Phoebe, whose cottage they're in), but Mom makes him stop because he's “scaring the kids.” However, once in bed, Priscilla dreams (in spooky half-light) the whole story of Aunt Phoebe, the fisherman she loved, and the lobster with the great claw who “ate” him.

Priscilla awakes to a rainy day, but her disappointment disappears when she discovers a box of Aunt Phoebe's old crayons. She begins to draw a picture of her “Perfect Day” which is sunny and bright with flowers and birds and trees.

Billy and Roscoe arrive and want to go downstairs for their special first-morning breakfast of pancakes, topped with the blueberries their neighbor, Mr. Berrymore (Brian Wallis) gave them. But Priscilla wants to finish the picture first.

And then... no, oh no! The three of them suddenly...

What an exciting and scary adventure they have! And best of all, they each (including Roscoe) get to “save the day.”

Oh, and yes, the Loch Ness Lobster does make an appearance, as do a clutch of cute clams (played by Kaylena Mann, Lily Donnelly and Ben Freiberger), and “a fruit with a suit that is beautiful blue” (Wallis, looking vaguely like Elvis) - who all sing and dance.

All the action, excitement, music, and fun keep even the youngest child in the audience entranced. And wisely, the show runs just under one hour.