Yesterday the kindergarten, first, and second grades at my school attended a performance of Little Red Riding Safely in the 'Hood. Let me recap:
Stage lights go up on an unbelievably energetic adult dressed in funny pants. She tells us she is a storyteller. A voice comes from somewhere, and Little Red Riding Hood--played by an even more energetic adult--comes out of the storybook and wants to get a new story. Instead of being a bad role model of making dangerous choices, she wants to be in the Safety Zone. She teaches the kids how to avoid danger.
There is even a song about being alert and not getting hurt.
In this version, the Big Bad Wolf is part pedophile, part internet scammer. Lil' Red teaches the kids how to stay off facebook, run in the opposite direction from creepy cars, and just say "no" to free balloons. She has lots of helpful ideas, including creating a code word with her mom.
If there's an emergency and the mom can't pick up the kid or something, mom can send an alternate in her place. Kid gets to check if the alternate is for real by asking for the code word. A helpful tip, if you ask me.
Two of my favorite tidbits from the show:
1. Lil' Red loved audience participation, so she asked the students to help her come up with a code word. When she asked for a random color, one of my more precocious students yelled, "BURGUNDY!"
2. Lil' Red, Big Bad Wolf, and Storyteller told the kids at the end of the show that they could write to ask questions. When we got back to class, one of my students wrote:
"Where is your house. What is your code word."
Future Big Bad? I hope not.
***
All in all, the actors did a great job. They have a tough gig.
Two thumbs up.