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Lessons on Values Found in ‘Jungle’

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Parents who associate “The Jungle Book” only with the goofy Disney animated feature (remember Louis Prima as chief monkey?) will have to adjust to the Saddleback Children’s Festival version, which is closer, relatively, to Rudyard Kipling’s original story. Stressing values over silly high jinks, playwright Vera Morris boils down the lost boy Mowgli’s many adventures into a single, easy-to-digest act, best suited for kids 6 and under.

She also settles the basic conflict on Mowgli (a lanky, spirited Chris Aguilar), who’s learning the morality and decency of so-called “jungle law” in the face of the wild’s evil, power-grabbing tiger, Shere Khan (an effective Collin Rand, in the best of costumer Diane Lewis’ fun animal outfits). Khan, like some Republicans in Washington, wants to stage a coup--in this case, of animal kingdom leader Father Wolf (Dennis Vandehe, who needs to learn how to project his voice) and reshape the realm in his own selfish image.

This “Jungle Book” offers several good messages to little ones about the benefits of sharing, community, trust, responsibility and good (ecological) manners, but director Blake Gould’s young company generally lacks the fire and energy to make a deep impression on small minds.

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A few actors here do maximize the fun of playing jungle animals. Will Townsend steals scene after scene as Tabaqui, the hapless, amoral jackal who sells out to Khan. Mike Tryon knows how to hold center stage as the goofball King Monkey (despite his poor, tuneless “Monkey See, Monkey Do” number that will make parents yearn for Barney). And Tyler Staley gives a strong, physical performance as Kaa the python.

Though this children’s theater group generally performs indoors at Mission Viejo Mall, the outdoor setting--despite the sometimes distracting wind--proves a natural with Wally Huntoon’s funky, greener-than-green set blending into the campus’ surrounding eucalyptus grove.

* “The Jungle Book,” Saddleback College outdoor stage, 27000 Crown Valley Parkway, Mission Viejo. Today-Sunday, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Ends Sunday. $6 ($5 for groups of 20 or more). (714) 364-2787. Running time: 50 minutes.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

“The Jungle Book,”

Chris Aguilar: Mowgli

Collin Rand: Shere Khan

Dennis Vandehe: Father Wolf

Mike Tryon: King Monkey

Will Townsend: Tabaqui

Tyler Staley: Kaa

Noelle Bird: Messua

Cassie Palmieri: Nyra

Steve Chang: Baloo

Amy Lang: Bagheera

A Saddleback Children’s Festival production of Vera Morris’ adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book” stories. Directed by Blake Gould. Set: Wally Huntoon. Costumes: Diane Lewis. Stage manager: Christopher Villa.

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