'Gingerbread Man' has a Christmas twist

Breakaway Theatre Productions presents a Christmas twist on the classic fairy tale about the runaway gingerbread man in "A Gingerbread Man Christmas," opening today.

With a new script written and directed by John Trent, the play runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 23 at Art-O-Culture (formerly Gallery 34) in Marysville.

Trent said portions of the play's plot will be familiar to anyone who knows the original story.

But instead of featuring an old woman who bakes the gingerbread man as a treat for her husband, as in the original story, Trent said his version includes a Girl (Holly Trent) who makes the Gingerbread Man (Jeremy Trent), which then runs away.

"Her dad (Ted Shadle) tries to catch the gingerbread man, and in trying to get away, the gingerbread man meets some other characters: an Elf (David Whitmore), a Reindeer (Dana Trent), a Snowman (John Trent) and a Cat (Lisa Rathburn).

"So it just adds a Christmas twist to the story."

Trent said the younger audience members especially will likely find it fun to join in when the gingerbread recites his iconic lines: "Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man."

Trent said his troupe is planning to serve holiday refreshments at the shows, including hot chocolate, apple cider and — of course — gingerbread man cookies. A gingerbread house will also be raffled as fundraiser for Breakaway Theatre Productions.

Because Art-O-Culture is on D Street, Trent said that on-street parking can be found around the city block downtown if spaces aren't available right in front of the Art-O-Culture storefront.

"It's a fun show, and it's for the entire family. There's jokes in there that the adults will get as well as the kids. We have a little bit of music that we use during scene changes, and then there's a dance number at the end.

"It's not your typical 'Gingerbread Man.' I don't want to give away too much, but in the original story, the sly fox ends up eating the gingerbread man at the end and I stay away from that," Trent said.

"It's just a fun little Christmas story for the family. Come support Breakaway Theatre Productions and have a good time."

CONTACT Susan Benitez at sbenitez@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4773. Find her on Facebook at /ADfeatures or on Twitter @ADfeatures.