“Little pigs! Little pigs! May I come in,” politely asks Wolfie, a big good wolf, as he knocks on the door of a new house that a trespassing pig illegally built on his property.
Fortunately, the pigs in “The Three Little Pigs and the Misunderstood Wolf” — a new play presented by Cape May Cares — fare much better in this tale than they did in the original story.
The nonprofit organization, which supports the Cape May Housing Authority and others in need in the community, showcases the talents of nine youngsters age 5 to 15 enrolled in its All-Star Theater Camp. The three-week program concludes this week, and, judging by the wide grins on the faces of everyone involved in the project, the camp is a shoe-in for countless encores.
The maestro behind the magic is professional actor and Cape May resident Kate McCauley Hathaway, who wrote the script and directs the play. Her husband, Jerry, who is an attorney, is the show’s technical director and Samantha Dahlstrom is its scene designer. Fifteen-year-old Jemma Eppenbach is assistant director and also narrates the play.
Cape May Cares launched the All-Star Theater Camp earlier this summer, drawing most of its cast from families living in the Cape May Housing Authority property. Conveniently, the complex has space for the children to rehearse in its business offices.
Last week, the young cast toured Cape May Stage, where they will perform this week for their families and friends. They also got a brief tutorial there from their director about the need to project their voices.
“This play is the children’s first theatrical experience,” Hathaway explained. “They’ve learned that doing a play isn’t easy and that it requires focus and hard work. They’ve also realized that acting as someone else helps us learn more about ourselves.”
Hathaway conducted children’s theater programs and wrote plays for youngsters earlier in her career. What she hopes her young charges take away from this experience is, “We all need to get along, and it’s important to know how to read.”
Jennifer Piazza, the mother of two boys in the program — Elliot, 7, and Jo-Jo, 9, who play wolves in the play — said she has seen dramatic changes in her sons since they got their roles.
“As a single mother living in Cape May, I am truly grateful for this new theater camp program,”she said. “It’s provided the boys with a safe, structured and creative environment and I’ve seen remarkable growth in their confidence, communication skills and ability to work as part of a team.”
What Piazza may appreciate less is her offspring’s mastery of the howling sounds of a pack of wolves that their roles call for in the play. The boys deliver an award-winning performance for best sound effects.
The young thespians’ three weeks of preparing for the show culminates with a live performance at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse.
Visit capemaycares.org to find out more about the organization.
By LYNN MARTENSTEIN/For the Star and Wave
