Hoochi-Doo Productions will be present “Three Fairy Godmothers,” at the Playbox at the Sonoma Charter School on Saturday, March 29. The plot follows the adventures of three fairy godmothers who have come out of retirement to aid the Princess Dulcie.
Ryan lely/Sonoma Valley Sun
Three Fairy Godmothers,” the latest entertaining production by the multi-talented and multi-tasking folks at Hoochi-Doo Productions, opens at The Playbox at the Sonoma Charter School on Saturday, March 29. The family-friendly show is resplendent with a lovely, but beleaguered princess, her handsome hubby-in-waiting, a meddlesome witch and the tricky trio of the title. The play is the first of the production company’s “Storybook Theater” program.
“Hoochi-Doo Productions decided to offer shows that would be both entertaining and accessible for the whole family,” said Hoochie-Doo’s artistic director, J. Anthony Martin. “When I first read ‘Three Fairy Godmothers’ by Jerry L. Twedt, I was laughing out loud and knew that I had found the perfect show to kick off our ‘Storybook Theater.’”
“Three Fairy Godmothers” follows the trials and tribulations of Princess Dulcie, played by Cindy Brillhart-True. The princess must break free of a spell she was cursed with that makes her mean enough to drive off suitors, including the perfect Prince Royal (Martin). The title characters, brought to life by Jeane MacPherson, Sue Martin and Jill Wagoner, step out of forced fairy retirement to right all wrongs with some magic of their own.
Equal parts Greek mythology, Brothers Grimm and Walt Disney, the show’s storyline is complicated by the likes of Barabella (Francesca Weiner) the witch who cast the “mean spell” on Princess Dulcie. With all the other gentlemen callers conveniently out of the way, the pretty young royal has no choice but to marry the witch’s creepy son Org, played by Bob Dougherty. This is not exactly the stuff of a “happily ever after” ending. So it’s fairy godmothers to the rescue.
The rest of the cast includes some of the North Bay’s most talented theater folk: John Conway as King Stouthart, Staunch and True; Sonoma resident Jessica Harper as both The Prime Minister and Count Quiggle; Malayka Hilton as Lady in Waiting and Hans; and, as the Cook, Linda Rawls, another Sonoma resident. Rawls also designed the show’s colorful period costumes.
Sean Bernaldi, Brillhart-True, Martin and his wife, Vicki, founded Hoochi-Doo in 2000. Since 2003, the company has called the Sonoma Community Center home. Last year, the company, a non-profit group, moved to their current home – the 99-seat Playbox at Sonoma Charter School. After production costs are covered, all proceeds go to the school’s fundraising fund.
“We are really counting on the community to come out and support both us and the school while enjoying some wonderful theater,” said Brillhart-True, who lives in Sonoma with husband, Jeff, and their two cats. “We are in this to keep theater alive and kicking in the Sonoma Valley.”
In August, the company will come out with pistols a-blazing when they perform Irving Berlin’s musical “Annie Get Your Gun.”
Performances are: Saturdays, March 29 and April 5 at 6 p.m.; Sundays, March 30 and April 6 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets cost $15 ($12 for children under 12) and are available at Readers’ Books, 130 E. Napa St. in Sonoma, by phone at 707.322.0621 or online at www.hoochidoo.com.
