Marriott using its firepower for 'Princess and the Pea'

Time was when creating shows for children was something of an afterthought for theater companies. At Second City in the '70s, the official children's show was not even performed by Second City, by the closely allied Player's Workshop.

These days, theaters take their children's show very seriously, in part because they are a great source of both revenue and future audiences. Today's theater loving kids all too quickly turn into tomorrow's ticket buyers. But, it is also true, that a high quality children's show reflects well on the theater. And it can endear the company to parents, who may already be paying customers.

So it shouldn't be surprising to find out that the folks at Marriott Theatre use almost the same degree of firepower bringing their children's shows to life as their main stage shows. Director Rachel Rockwell, the director responsible for Marriott's remounting of "The Princess and the Pea," which opened last night, was given a budget large enough to include an incredible special effect: a live video feed of the events in the play.

Rick Boynton and Marc Robin's musical version of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy-tale takes place in a very LA kind of place.

"The story about the search for the perfect wife for a prince," Rockwell says, "takes place in fictional place called Ipslonia, which is a lot like the worst part of Hollywood. Everyone is very superficial and very self-involved."

Naturally the paparazzi are the same way. And they follow the story (with TV cameras) as obsessively as the real ones records the latest escapades of Britney or Brangelina.

"There will be video going on during the show," Rockwell says, "A lot of the princess stuff is going to be televised. The thing is that while everyone else is superficial the two central characters (the prince and the princess so sensitive she can feel a pea through a stack of mattresses) are not superficial."

"The point of the show is that you need to make your own destiny," Rockwell says, "You need to find your own voice. It is beautiful to be smart."

The cameras are only part of the picture. Rockwell is doing all she can to make sure the show charms parents, even as it entertains kids. She knows what she is doing. She directed Marriott's smashing version of "Suessical!," performed earlier this year. And she was one of the minds behind Marriott's well received version of the "Wizard of Oz."

"The original material is very witty," Rockwell says, "The writing is very, very witty. We are not talking over the kids heads but it is funny."

It better be. As Rockwell admits, "Kids are so honest if you are not telling a good story they will call you on the carpet."

But Rockwell has the ultimate secret weapon. A kid of her own, to test the material out on.

"The Princess and the Pea" runs through Aug. 30 at The Marriott Theatre, Route 21 (Milwaukee Avenue) at Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. For tickets call (847) 634-0200 or visit marriotttheatre.com.