Benet's 'Grimm' promises wild ride

Here's a quick tip for all of you looking for a nice, sedate evening at the theater: You might want to skip Benet Academy's production of "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon" opening Thursday at the Lisle school.

On the other hand, if you're looking for something that requires you to let your hair down like Rapunzel in the tower, or aims to put the "poof!" in spoof, you might want to mark this one on your calendar.

By the time the 12-person cast is done, it will have taken you on a roller-coaster-like ride at breakneck speed through bits and pieces of 209 tales from the Brothers Grimm in roughly two hours.

They will break character and complain about their roles. They will change costumes on stage. They will ask you to chant, make scary noises and otherwise cast away your inhibitions like so much of Rumpelstiltskin's gold.

And then, just when you think you've been through every last wild twist and turn, they're going to do the last couple minutes of the show backward.

All in all, just another relaxing night at the opera - if you're one of the Marx Brothers.

"It's very silly," Director John Leffler says.

It's the kind of show that spoofs virtually everything, including the Benet drama troupe's most recent production, "Into the Woods." In fact, this production will use some of the very same set elements from the earlier play.

Audience members almost certainly will recognize some of "The Brothers Grimm" characters from traditional stories such as "Cinderella" and "Hansel and Gretel." But the show also will introduce them to lesser-known tales, such as "The Devil's Grandmother" and "The Girl Without Hands."

The idea, he says, is for the characters from each story to transform into characters from the next one. If that sounds like it might be a little confusing and chaotic, it's only because it is.

"Hopefully (the audience) can keep it straight, but they really don't have to," the director says.

Leffler says he usually considers several plays for each Benet performance and then solicits input from seniors who have been involved in school productions for the past four years.

When this year's seniors saw "Brothers," they jumped at the chance to perform it, he says.

"They're still laughing even after weeks of rehearsals, so it must be pretty funny," he says.

The production is not without its challenges. Spring break limited rehearsal time, Leffler says, and it was difficult to decide how many students to cast because they're all expected to perform multiple roles.

Leffler also is working with five assistant directors, he says, "which has proved invaluable."

A week ago, Leffler admitted the cast was "still scrambling to get things done," but he insists everyone will be ready when the show opens Thursday night at Benet's St. Daniel Hall, 2200 Maple Ave., Lisle.

Assuming no one turns Leffler or the cast into frogs, "The Brothers Grimm" will continue at 7 p.m. each night through Sunday, May 2, at St. Daniel's Hall, 2200 Maple Ave. Tickets are $5.

If you goWhat: "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculation"When: 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, April 29 through May 2Where: Benet Academy's St. Daniel Hall, 2200 Maple Ave., LisleTickets: $5 Info: benet.org