REV Theatre Co. presents free summer show in Scranton with neighborhood children

SCRANTON — If you met a wolf with big teeth, a penchant for trickery and a posse of six buzzards who follow him around hoping for leftovers, would you be afraid?

Or would you be sympathetic to his rumbling stomach?

Huff ‘n’ Puff Daddy may be the villain in REV Theatre Co.’s version of the Little Red Riding Hood story, which is set to debut at 7 p.m. Aug. 26 on a Scranton stage, but he’s so hungry he can’t think.

Plus he has insomnia and counting sheep doesn’t help.

In fact, eating sheep doesn’t help much, either. They’re like hors d’oeuvres. He’d like to scarf down Little Red Riding Hood as a main course, but that’s probably not going to happen.

“She’s smarter than the wolf,” cast member Taryn Loney, 14, of Scranton explained during a recent rehearsal.

Taryn plays wolf hunter Cookie Von Boom Boom, which gave her a chance to throw a lot of punches as she sparred during rehearsal with REV Theatre’s artistic director Rudy Caporaso, who wrote the script and portrays the wolf.

It was her first stage fight, Taryn said with a grin, and it was fun.

Producing family-friendly shows with kids at the United Neighborhood Center on the West Side of Scranton has become a tradition for REV Theatre co-founders Caporaso and Rosemary Hay, whose previous offerings include a “Handsome & Petal” twist on the old story of “Hansel & Gretel” and a South Sea Island adventure called “Play-doh, Play-doh.”

“What they’ve taught me most is to not be afraid to step outside my comfort zone,” said Miranda Chemchick, 20, of Scranton who is a veteran of six REV productions, starting with “Macbeth.”

“I didn’t like Shakespeare at all,” she remembered. “Now I read his books all the time.”

After graduating from Scranton High School, Chemchick works as a cook at the University of Scranton. “I’m in a hot, busy kitchen all morning, then I come here (to rehearsal) because I love it.”

Chemchick, who plans to enroll in the Police Academy at Lackawanna College, is helping to direct the “Little Red Riding Hood” show and expects the experience will help in her future career in law enforcement. “I’ve learned you have to have rules and you can’t be too lenient,” she said.

Putting on a play is all about learning, as Caporaso encouraged young dancers to “look out at the audience, not at your feet” and reminded young singers to enunciate.

“Can anyone tell me what that means?” he asked.

“It means really pronounce certain letters like T, C and B,” said 12-year-old Izzy Deflice, who portrays one of three pigs.

The show makes reference to more than one wolf story, Caporaso said, explaining the porcine presence.

As for the unflappable Red Riding Hood, he said she represents “that archetype of the strong 1940s dame.” And, you can expect her to triumph in the end.

Rudy Caporaso as the wolf Huff ‘n’ Puff Daddy leads an entourage of buzzards including Rahiym Muhammad, 12; Alexandra Salina, 12, and Shahiyd Muhammed, 11, as they prowl around looking for something to eat in REV Theatre Co.’s adaptation of ‘Little Red Riding Hood.’

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_red2_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgRudy Caporaso as the wolf Huff ‘n’ Puff Daddy leads an entourage of buzzards including Rahiym Muhammad, 12; Alexandra Salina, 12, and Shahiyd Muhammed, 11, as they prowl around looking for something to eat in REV Theatre Co.’s adaptation of ‘Little Red Riding Hood.’

Taahairah Muhammad, 16, of Scranton, portrays a feisty Little Red Riding Hood in the show.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_red3_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgTaahairah Muhammad, 16, of Scranton, portrays a feisty Little Red Riding Hood in the show.

Little Red Riding Hood (Taahairah Muhammad) is bringing a pizza with anchovies to her Granny, but Granny has been replaced by the wolf Huff ‘n’ Puff Daddy (Rudy Caporaso).

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_red4_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgLittle Red Riding Hood (Taahairah Muhammad) is bringing a pizza with anchovies to her Granny, but Granny has been replaced by the wolf Huff ‘n’ Puff Daddy (Rudy Caporaso).

The wolf (REV Theatre Co.’s co-director Rudy Caporaso) dances with a little lamb (8-year-old Sasha Giles of Scranton).

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_red5_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgThe wolf (REV Theatre Co.’s co-director Rudy Caporaso) dances with a little lamb (8-year-old Sasha Giles of Scranton).

Taryn Loney, 14, of Scranton, as wolf hunter Cookie von Boom Boom, tries to stop the wolf in his tracks.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_red6_faa-2-.jpg.optimal.jpgTaryn Loney, 14, of Scranton, as wolf hunter Cookie von Boom Boom, tries to stop the wolf in his tracks.

Counting sheep doesn’t cure your insomnia when you’re a wolf. In this scene from REV Theatre Co.’s adaptation of ‘Little Red Riding Hood,’ wolf Huff ‘n’ Puff Daddy would like to eat the little lambs, portrayed by Makayla Jones, Julianna Cheek, Aubrey Palmitessa, Olivia Dominick, Lucille Sandman and Sasha Giles.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_red7_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgCounting sheep doesn’t cure your insomnia when you’re a wolf. In this scene from REV Theatre Co.’s adaptation of ‘Little Red Riding Hood,’ wolf Huff ‘n’ Puff Daddy would like to eat the little lambs, portrayed by Makayla Jones, Julianna Cheek, Aubrey Palmitessa, Olivia Dominick, Lucille Sandman and Sasha Giles.

Assistant director of the show Miranda Chemchick, sitting next to REV Theatre’s co-artistic director Rosemary Hay, uses a megaphone to give the young cast some tips.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_red8_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgAssistant director of the show Miranda Chemchick, sitting next to REV Theatre’s co-artistic director Rosemary Hay, uses a megaphone to give the young cast some tips.