‘Brothers Grimm’ and ‘Pillowman’ are an interesting juxtaposition

Twists of fate are a common element in fairy tales, and in an interesting twist of fate, two local theaters are currently producing very different shows based on such tales. Both highlight the dark nature of classic folklore, one poking fun at familiar tropes and the other reminding us why these stories are the stuff of nightmares.

Lansing Community College’s theater program is offering up the family-friendly farce “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon,” a satirical piece that combines all the Brothers Grimm fairy tales into one fast-moving theatrical extravaganza. Meanwhile, Ixion Ensemble Theatre is taking things in a more adult-oriented direction with “The Pillowman,” an intense drama about a writer whose frightful fairy tales start to come true.

The Brothers Grimm collected and published fairy and folk tales that were often quite, well, grim. “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” remains true to the original tales, highlighting the bizarre nature of plot devices such as characters making deals with supernatural entities and witches eating children. The play also focuses on the ridiculously unfair fates that many of the characters suffer. Yet as dark as that might sound, the show is a hilarious romp for audiences of all ages.

Don Zolidis’ clever script is goofy enough to keep children engaged while entertaining adults with references to Monty Python and the Disneyfication of the source material. Another rewarding bit for parents is the portrayal of Rapunzel (Denisse Huguez) as a moody, resentful teen. Huguez is perfect as the petulant brat, stomping her feet and screaming at her oblivious parents (Rachael Ngasala and Avery Martin).

A significant portion of the play is spent recreating the story of Hansel (Zander Pearce) and Gretel (Amirah Abaalkhail) as the first horror film, with full audience participation. Abaalkhail exhibits her versatility in multiple roles but really shines as she takes on all the characters in “Cinderella” in an exhausting tour de force.

“The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” runs a lean 70 minutes, a perfect length for a high-energy show that keeps the whole audience engaged. With the added benefit of free admission and free parking, this is a great show to introduce children to live theater.

In contrast, Ixion’s “The Pillowman” is most definitely for mature audiences only. Katurian (Heath Sartorius), a contemporary writer of fairy tales, has been arrested because several children have been murdered in ways that mimic his stories. The plot takes place in a totalitarian society where the police serve as investigators, judges and executioners. Katurian has two hours to prove his innocence or die.

The officers, Tupolski (Jeff Kennedy) and Ariel (Brian Farnham), play good cop-bad cop as they try to threaten, cajole and beat a confession out of Katurian. At first, the plot seems to be an indictment of authoritarian suppression of free speech, but the story takes a turn when it’s revealed that they have also arrested Katurian’s brother, Michal (Sam Johnson).

Katurian is protective of Michal, who has some unspecified special needs. Act two focuses on the brothers’ childhood and relationship. As played by Johnson, Michal is an enigma. He doesn’t seem to have any specific disability, but he’s clearly damaged. Johnson brings a unique, unsettling physicality to the role. He’s disaffected, emotionally remote and darkly self-centered, the product of a very dysfunctional childhood.

To say much more about the plot would spoil its stunning reveals, but one additional element can be mentioned: Katurian narrates several of his fairy tales throughout the show, and Sartorius is mesmerizing as he unspools them. In one story, “The Little Jesus,” Neysa Nohara portrays a young girl who believes she’s Christ reborn and is forced by her adoptive parents (Edric Haleen and Liv Challa) to replicate the Passion of Christ. It’s a harrowing scene due to Little Jesus’ commitment to her belief.

“The Pillowman” runs two and a half hours, but it doesn’t feel long. The three-act structure and the way playwright Martin McDonagh reveals the plot twists create a compelling pacing. In addition, the fairy tales built into the play are haunting, sometimes horrifying. Sartorius is well cast as a seemingly innocuous creative type whose art comes from a very deep, dark past.

Revisiting the Brothers Grimm’s works at LCC before seeing “The Pillowman” at Ixion will provide an interesting juxtaposition for adult audiences. Children can stay innocent a little longer and enjoy the ridiculous nature of fairy tales without being fully exposed to their darkness at the “Spectaculathon.”