Overacting Dulls Luster of ‘Princess’

MISSION VIEJO — Things have changed a lot in children’s literature over the past century. Time was when kids were allowed a sort of halfway glimpse into the joys--and the terrors--of adult life.

A prime example is Frances Hodgson Burnett’s “A Little Princess,” adapted for the stage by Vera Morris and presented by the Saddleback Children’s Festival at the Mission Viejo Mall.

“Princess” is a typical tale of its late-Victorian era--about little Sara Crewe, whose father, Capt. Crewe, rich from diamond mines in India, has sent her to London for an education. He puts her in the care of Miss Minchin, at her Select Seminary for Young Ladies.

Miss Minchin is an ogress right out of Dickens--evil, cunning and overpoweringly avaricious. Despite the efforts of her pleasant and well-meaning sister Miss Amelia, Miss Minchin is preparing her charges in her own image, particularly the spiteful Lavinia, who waits to crush Sara at the first opportunity.

The “Little Princess,” as her father calls Sara, gets the royal treatment from Miss Minchin only because she is an heiress. Things change when Capt. Crewe dies, leaving his daughter penniless. But fear not, in the end Miss Minchin gets her comeuppance, and the goodness and purity that shines from little Sara is duly rewarded.

This staging by Phillis Gitlin has charms and a flaw.

Children in the audience sit on cushions around the floor, where cast members (in costume and character) chat with them before the show. The action evolves effectively out of this informality, and Gitlin guides the hourlong drama with energy and theatricality.

The flaw, a considerable one, is in the director’s allowing many of the performances to turn into grotesqueries, a giant step beyond caricature. Kids accept realism and really don’t need exclamation points after every word to keep them enthralled.

Lorianne Hill as Miss Minchin barely escapes outrageousness and generally gives her character enough venom to be believable. As the Little Princess, Sarah Beers starts out with an affected style, but settles into a rounded characterization as the play progresses, sugary but truthful enough to make Sara lovable. John Miller is way over the top as Capt. Crewe’s solicitor, but very effective later as the captain’s good friend Carrisford.

Julie Martens is wonderful as junior villain Lavinia, attractive but as evil as Miss Minchin, and Diane Prado is an excellent Jessie, one of the many girls who like Sara.

Louis Hale is also top-notch as Carrisford’s lascar servant Ram Dass, who helps discover Sara’s whereabouts, but young Tyler McGraw, as Carrisford’s servant boy Perkins, goes overboard with mugging and jerky, eccentric movements.

BE THERE

“A Little Princess,” Saddleback Children’s Festival, Mission Viejo Mall, second level, 27000 Crown Valley Parkway, Mission Viejo. 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays. Ends Sunday. $6. (714) 364-2787. Running time: 1 hour.