NEW YORK—Adapted for the stage by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar, the beautiful book “Le Petit Prince” (“The Little Prince”) by Antoine de Saint-Exupery comes to theatrical life in a production by Hang a Tale Company.
An Aviator (Christopher Gerson) has crash-landed in the desert. As he desperately sets about to repair his plane, which he refers to as his friend, he is approached by a young figure, The Little Prince (a charming Tarah Flanagan). The young fellow has himself landed from another planet and engages the Aviator in conversation, seeking to get his bearings and learn more about life than he’s known before.
They discuss the baobab trees, which The Little Prince feels threatened by, with their flexible, grasping green tendrils. (These are moved about the stage by half-hidden performers.)
The Little Prince is particularly sad about his having left another planet, where he had met and become quite attached to a beautiful creature who had unfurled herself leaf by leaf and petal by petal to become an exquisite Rose (Jude Sandy).
Although the two had become quite friendly, the Rose later became petulant and difficult to deal with, so The Little Prince left her and traveled here. But now he misses her company, for at least he could communicate with her. A good friend is hard to find.
