Nicholle Tom in Rumplestiltskin
In October 2000 - Dec 2000, Nicholle Tom appeared in a play entitled "Rumplestiltskin" at
the Falcon Theater in Toluca Lake, California.
This play was put on for children and had a delightful
new spin to it.
In the old folktale it told of a girl who gets herself in a jam because of her father's boastful outrageous claims that she could spin straw into gold. A Duke heard this tale and locks the girl in a room to perform the feat. To her surprise a crooked looking wood imp appears and tells her he will spin the straw into gold to win her freedom for a trade. She trades all the jewelry she had on her person, although it wasn't much. And of course, the Duke wasn't satisfied with the gold that was spun and once again Rumplestiltskin pays her another visit. Only this time she has nothing to trade so he tells her for her first born son he will do the deed again. And in desperation for her freedom, she agrees.
As you can tell, giving up your first born to a stranger isn't the best message you would like to impart to your children. In this play, Nicholle plays Shy Chloe who loves to watch sports on ESPN. Her mother makes the same boastful claims to a King, to get her daughter away from the TV and to meet a "nice" man. The King tells Shy Chloe to spin the straw into gold and if it can be done he will marry her. (Not much better than the first born scenario!)
Rumplestiltskin appears, but he is a funny man with a devilish smile. He will spin the straw into gold if Shy Chloe can make him laugh. The play was a very funny one and the children and adults in the audience were able to be a part of it, playing the townspeople. At one point, Rumplestiltskin hid from the king in the audience and to my son's delight, sat right next to him.
Towards the end of the play, Shy Chloe and the King both came to the conclusion that marrying for that reason was wrong. But the wedding was still on because they enjoyed each other's company and humor so much that they had fallen in love. They plucked kids from the audience to be part of the wedding party. My son was the best man. At one point, when the King was asked, "Do you take this woman to be your bride?," the King turned conspiratorially to my son and asked, "Should I?" To which my son, shrugged and said, "I guess so."
After the play, all the actors came out to the lobby to meet their fans - the kids loved it.
They signed programs and talked with the kids. At one point my son thumb wrestled with Nicholle Tom, I think
it was then when his crush started! Nicholle Tom was very nice and friendly to everyone. She chatted and joked with
each and every little and big fan that came to meet her.