A 'hairy' fairy tale

Caroline Rich and Blake Arvin, the prince and princess, search the forest for the missing Rapunzel in 'A Hairy Tale.' The play is this weekend at the Fly Cultural Arts Center. (Submitted photo) [Click to enlarge]

Rapunzel is stuck in the tower again, and this time, she's got plenty of company on stage -- including a king, a queen, a prince, a princess, a wolf, a witch, an evil queen, a fairy godmother and Paprika, the Lost Spice Girl.

This fairy tale flotsam and jetsam are the characters in "A Hairy Tale," the children's play that will be at the Fly Cultural Arts Center this weekend. It is cast with local children -- 23 of them -- from kindergarten through seventh grade.

"It's very funny, upbeat and positive, with lots of action," said Ashley Thomas, who is making her debut as a director. "The kids have really worked well with me. It's been a great experience."

The play is part of the Fly's summer youth drama program, which will conclude later this summer with the older students' production of "Little Shop of Horrors."

"A Hairy Tale" may be Ashley's first job as a director, but she is no stranger to The Fly. She has been in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Dearly Beloved," and the Christmas play, "Sorry, Wrong Chimney."

"I wanted to get my feet wet directing and thought this would be a great opportunity," she said. "We thought this would be a really fun play."

Challenges of youth

Working with almost two dozen children has presented some challenges to Ashley, who is used to mostly adult casts.

"I can't thank Chastity Langford enough. She's my assistant director and she's not only helped with the kids, she's helped me keep my sanity!" she said, laughing.

But working with the young actors has also had some unexpected rewards.

"Children are very open minded and they want to please, they are eager to please," she said. "They're eager to learn their lines and do well on stage because they want to please you. I can't say that for some adult actors.

"'It's been a lot of fun and the kids have been very entertaining -- there are so many personalities! People who are into plays tend to be very sociable anyway."

Another plus to her new role as children's play director has been one of the children in particular -- her 7-year old son, Javan Smith, who plays "Elton."

"We've had a great time doing this together. He has seen me in plays and he has wanted to participate in that," said Ashley. "He wanted to actually be there and be part of stuff instead of sitting there and watching me."

The play itself is a comic mishmash of several different fairy tales, with some modern giggles thrown in, such as the paparazzi who hound the royalty, and that missing Spice girl, Paprika.

"They all interact," she said. "There's a witch, an evil queen, a wolf and a fairy godmother who are all trying to pull the story along."

The cast of 'A Hairy Tale' includes: Delaina Black, Alix Harwell, Lydia Stafford, Leah Reed, Javan Smith, Alex Wilson, Josiah Smith, Jessica Thompson, Olivia Greer, Madison Locke, Dayton Hasty, Arin Harwell, Tanner Burnett, Sydney Langford, Katelen Shearon, Cameron Adcock, Andi Harwell, Mark Kelly Olson, Sam Rich, Emily Rice, Blake Arvin, and Caroline Rich. (Submitted photo)

Cast and crew

Narrator 1-Delaina Black

Narrator 2-Alix Harwell

Ida-Lydia Stafford

Ernestine-Leah Reed

Elton-Javan Smith

Burt-Alex Wilson

Lou-Josiah Smith

Witch-Jessica Thompson

Evil Queen-Olivia Greer

Fairy Godmother-Madison Locke

Wolf-Dayton Hasty

Luisa-Arin Harwell

Antonio-Tanner Burnett

Paprika-Sydney Langford

Rapunzel-Katelen Shearon

Bill-Cameron Adcock

Gloria-Andi Harwell

Andrew-Mark Kelly Olson

King Edwin-Sam Rich

Queen Edwina-Emily Rice

Prince Rupert-Blake Arvin

Princess Iphigenia-Caroline Rich

Extras-Dawson Hasty

Director-Ashley Thomas

Asst. Director-Chastity Langford

Backstage/Costumes-Tiffany Cooper and Dianne Clanton

Lights/Sound-Auggie Hill and Caleb Smith

Show times

Performances of "A Hairy Tale" are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at The Fly.