Angela's Flying Bed (FringeNYC)

Fasten your seat belts and off we go. Well, you probably don't have a seat belt on your bed, but if you are little Angela, it would help because her bed flies. Angela is played by a child actress and the bed is played by an adult actress decked with the same sheets that are on the actual bed which is the play's key object. Of course, this a low-budget show so the bed is really just on wheels and is rolled around the stage (OK, actually there's no raised stage, but the wide floor playing space at 45 Bleecker. Not quite the big theatrical experience of recent Broadway where a car and show named Chitty Chitty Bang Bang took to the air actually "flew." But the bedtime story has its own charms.)

Angela's Flying Bed is a children's show, or to use the term preferred by some marketers, shall we say a family show. In this case, it's a fair description because there is much here that also appeals to adults. That comes in the strongest element of this, which is not so much the performance or visuals but the songs written by talented craftsman Dave Hall. His songs are full of sparkle, joy, word play, interior rhymes and the personality of the various characters. Lines like "You can babble on from here to Babylon" are a pleasure to hear rather than sing-song drivel that passes for some children's entertainment.

The book, written by the songwriter and Karl Greenberg has some fun, too, while retaining many basic elements of traditional children's theatre. There's the journey, the desire for home, characters learning lessons, becoming better people (or animals) and silly humor with quick action keeping things hopping. Or in this case, flying. They have a few inside jokes for adults, referencing An Inconvenient Truth and there's some nice sarcasm, too. (When Angela says she's thirsty, the flying mattress remarks in a what-am-I-supposed-to-do tone, "What am I? A waterbed?"

Early on, we meet the Selfish Shellfish (say that five times fast) and there are birds, too, and some llamas in pajamas. Among those in the cast is Mr. Greenberg. His real-life daughter, Maya Gaston, plays Angela and is about to enter the fourth grade. Considering that she has minimal stage experience, she does OK, and stays in character in her low-key way. She swallows some words and could face out to the audience more, but there's none of that overly self-conscious manner one finds in some child performers nor any show-off, sugary, or precocious factor. Lydia Gaston appears as Mom and is the choreographer. Quite a family affair for this family show! Luke Marcus is a delightful child actor who brings freshness and genuine spark to his role as a little camel. (You see, the bed, with a poor sense of direction, ends up in all kinds of places with all kinds of creatures.) Trip Plymale and Michael Huston play various roles and roll the bed, too. The bed is personified as an adventurous and slightly off-kilter but upbeat lady, played energetically and brightly by Eleanor Ruth. The best acting comes with the squabbling of creatures, particularly the pair of birds who contradict each other. Costumes for animals are suggested by colorful and creative pieces (like flowing pieces attached to arms for birds) rather than full-body costumes and headgear. The costume designer is Nicole A. Brodeur and she has some nice ideas. Chris Clavelli is he director and keeps things light, never letting the argumentative animals or anyone else overstay their welcome.

The writers, who have done other family shows such as a version of Jack and the Beanstalk, are a team to watch for fare that's fun and freewheeling. Though occasionally puzzling and with a few scenes that lag, Angela's Flying Bed ticks itself into your mind for a diverting adventure with a pleasing clever quotient.