Adapted by resident playwright Linda Daugherty, Coyote Talesis based on Mexican folklore and performed in English and Spanish at Dallas Children's Theater. Coyote Tales spins a whimsical story of Coyote, a trickster who spends his every waking moment hunting for his next meal. But Coyote, who is several enchiladas short of the Wednesday night special, is no match for the forest animals including Dog, Fox, Rabbit, Raccoon, Chicken, and Prairie Dog, all of whom use their wily tricks to outfox Coyote. The star of Coyote Tales is clearly Zak Herring's scenic design, a fanciful, multi-level, multi-colored set that is pure delight and includes the ever-present, anthropomorphic Sun and Moon. Rivaling the sets are the psychedelic costumes designed by Mary Therese D'Avignon. El Sol is embodied by a red costume with glittering gold sombrero and shiny gold sash. The only thing that would have enhanced these costumes more would have been facial make-up appropriate to the animals (a la Cats).
Daugherty's script has limited appeal. The small boy of about four sitting next to me couldn't understand the action and kept asking his mother to explain. The assessment of my friend's 11 year-old grandson who accompanied us was: "It's too juvenile." A show with such a narrow range of audience appeal, possibly ages 6-10, may have a limited financial viability as well. The dialogue is "as corny as Kansas in August" with nothing to hold the attention of an adult. There is a reason the medium is called Show Business, and a play with only visuals to appeal to adults may need to be re-thought.
Some of the actors playing the various animals might be more at home in community theater. While DCT founding artistic director Robyn Flatt's staging is splendid, some cast members are out of their league. The main exception is Sarah Jane Fiorello, never seen, who guides the actions of Prairie Dog. Fiorello, a master pupeteer with Kathy Burks Theater of Puppetry Arts, gives the acting element on stage its only real hint of professionalism.
