Theatre tells 'Completely True' story of 'Gretel and Hansel'

While many are familiar with the story of "Hansel and Gretel," few know the complete story.

The Magic Theatre hopes to remedy this with its latest production, "The Completely True Story of Gretel and Hansel."

And why is it billed as the "completely true" account of the events?

"Just because," said writer/ director John Elliott. "This is my version of the events of the story. ... It's a comic version of the classic fairy tale."

"Hansel and Gretel" had its origins as a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. In the story, Hansel and Gretel are the two German children of a poor woodcutter. Under the threat of starvation, their parents decide to abandon the children in the woods.

While there, the children discover a house made of candy. They proceed to eat the house, only to find a witch lives inside and traps them, locking Hansel in a cage and making Gretel her servant.

"I like it because it's a classic story that Disney hasn't touched," Elliott said, "so people have no imprint of the tale. That gives me free reign."

The "Hansel and Gretel" story itself is slightly dark, with its child abandonment plot point, and the fate of the witch in the original story. For "The Completely True Story of Gretel and Hansel," the darker aspects are toned down so that it's suitable for a children's play.

"The thing you can't get around (with 'Hansel and Gretel') is the cannibalism with the witch wanting to eat Hansel," Elliott said. "So I softened the witch, and put in a lot of shameless food jokes."

The tone of the Magic Theatre production is more comedic in general. "It has little bit of Monty Python in it and can be slightly surrealistic. ... I look at it as a non-musical 'Sweeney Todd.'"

With the names of the children switched in the story's title, the emphasis was also shifted to Gretel, rather than Hansel. "I did that because we all know Gretel kicks butt in the story," Elliott said.

The cast of "The Completely True Story of Gretel and Hansel includes Joe Moye as the narrator, Mike Pugh as the woodcutter, Bonnie Williams as the Woodcutter's Wife, Taylor Manning as the first Gretel, Tad Crother as Hansel, Darien Torrison as the second Gretel, James Murphy as Igor and Kathleen Hansen as the witch.

"The Completely True Story of Gretel and Hansel" runs to Oct. 25.

"The Completely True Story of Gretel and Hansel"
Times: 1 and 3 p.m. Saturdays; runs to Oct. 25
Where: The Magic Theatre, 815 B St., Yuba City
Tickets: $5. Call 751-1100