1. The Story

Prince Valiant is having difficulty finding a partner, as he must marry a princess.  When a young woman seeks shelter in the castle and claims to be a princess, his mother decides to test the guest by placing a pea in the bed the young woman is offered for the night.  In the morning, the guest, Princess Olivia, tells her hosts that she had a sleepless night, kept awake by something hard in the bed.  The prince rejoices.  Only a real princess would have the sensitivity to feel a pea through such a quantity of bedding.

2. Creativity

Apart from Princess Olivia, Prince Valiant & Tabitha the Cat, who brings humor to the play, meet Stella Strong (smartly clad in a white Olympia gown with gold trim), Dianna Ding-a-ling (Silly with an awful singing voice), Minerva the Marvelous (the brainy princess in cap and gown), and Bealah theBeautiful (carries her cosmetics in a gold bag).

3. Relevance

There’s a universal lesson to be learned here.  Prince Valiant isn’t dazzled by the good looks or impressed by the brains of the princesses.  He seeks a princess with whom he can share something in common for a long-lasting marriage.

4. Introduction to Children’s Theatre

Hale Theatre offers children’s theatre in the spring & summer.  The productions, characterized by action, drama, emotion, colorful costuming and appealing story lines, are a good way to introduce a child to live theatre. Plus, it’s a positive alternative to watching cartoons on TV!

5. Celebrate or Have a Picnic

The show starts at 11 am on Saturdays.  The water park across the street has tables and grassy places for a picnic or birthday party after the show.  If you’re celebrating a birthday, the theater will keep your cake refrigerated until the party.  Birthday children are introduced on stage and given a small gift.  In addition, the audience sings the birthday song.

(Text courtesy of Srianthi Perera of the Arizona Republic)