Not every worthwhile midtown theater event takes place on the Great White Way. Sometimes you have to trek a little bit north-eastward to catch one of the most family-friendly, albeit girl-slanted, shows in town. When the American Girl Place opened last month at Fifth and 49th, it was a shrewd business move already proven successful in Chicago. More an upscale shopping/entertainment venue than a store, American Girl Place represents the trend toward savvy marketing that capitalizes on already-popular merchandise combined with down home, feel-good entertainment — which just happens to house a theater, a café, a doll hospital and a doll hair salon. The concept has already proven wildly successful at its Chicago venue, tapping into a rich and vibrant vein of the family market. Eager to encourage their young girls’ appreciation of wholesome fare and discourage the more salacious marketing tools of junk food snacks, parents are flocking with their female charges in tow to this young girl-friendly family establishment. Not only will your daughter (or niece or family/friend) find that perfect accessory for one of the eight American Girls now on the market, they will also be entertained mightily to boot — for the two stores also play host to a (not too) professional event on a small-scale stage. The American Girl Revue is classic edutainment mixed with a celebration of the American can-do spirit, historical warts and all. A recent visit to a performance revealed the basic premise of the not-too-long (just over an hour) showcase that introduces and elaborates briefly on each of the dolls. Acted out by a troupe of personable young ladies and a handful of adults, the performance includes snippets of the adventures revealed in the books of the treasured dolls, under the guise of making one lone newcomer on the block feel at home. It is a clever premise, acted out by youngsters who perform more in the spirit of “Let’s put on a show!” than Broadway razzle-dazzle. And because the space is so intimate and cozy, it succeeds well despite a few longueurs. The stage, barely a foot away from the first row, intimates a grassy plain, suitable for acting out Kaya’s struggles with her American Indian past, Felicity’s colonial-era adventures, Addy’s bravery during the country’s slave days, and so on. Most of the little girls in the audience sat enraptured, silent and clutching their prized dolls. The morality tales were cloaked in entertaining vignettes, which all ended on an uplifting note. Lessons of responsibility, respect, women’s rights and bravery were ultimately brought home — the songs delivered with enthusiasm and much teamwork. The girls wore simple play clothes and sang a rousing tune at the end, bedecked in white overalls sparkling with silvery stars. They encouraged the audience to join in with a giant sing-along of the “American Girl Anthem” before sending them on their way to do more accessorizing for their tiny alter-egos — Samantha, Josephina, Kit, Molly, Kirsten, Addy, Kaya and Felicity. To order tickets ($30 each) and receive more information on reservations and schedules, call 1-877-AGPLACE.
