When Roald Dahl first penned this weirdly awesome children's tale more than a half-century ago, the titled mutated fruit was originally a cherry—but Dahl thought better of it. He's quoted as saying that a peach would be “prettier, bigger and squishier than a cherry.” And now, after reissues, re-imaginings, and even a feature film, James and the Giant Peach comes to the South Coast Repertory. Adapted for the stage by David Wood, the story follows the adventure of an emotionally and physically abused orphan, who, after dropping some magical crocodile tongues down a barren fruit tree, finds himself lodged inside a monstrous peach with six giant, talking bugs. After killing his abusers, they end up fighting hungry sharks, temperamental cloud deities and, finally, New Yorkers. Appropriate for children 4 years and older.
Tuesdays-Sundays. Starts: Feb. 7. Continues through Feb. 23, 2014
