The BFG (Big Friendly Giant)

The rules were made clear right from the start: Any adults who started crying during the performance were to be escorted by the children out to the lobby. As it turned out, everyone was too busy laughing to get upset. The Arvada Center's adaptation of Roald Dahl's ever-popular children's book, The BFG (Big Friendly Giant), has played to nearly sold-out houses for two shows every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday since February.

It's easy to see why. The endearing story stars an orphaned English girl, Sophie, who befriends an amicable, vegetable-eating giant whose occupation of bringing good dreams to children is being threatened by six carnivorous bogeymen. Together, Sophie and the big friendly giant overcome a series of obstacles and get rewarded by the Queen.

Starring many of Denver's finest adult actors, the production, directed by Christopher Willard, captures all the nuances of childlike behavior while infused with the detail and nuance delivered by a professional company.

Katharyn Grant, in pigtails and jumper, brings an bubbly innocence to Sophie; Tupper Cullum is the affable Dad turned goofy Giant; Karen Slack, woman of a thousand voices, strikes the perfect zany notes for Mom, the teacher, and the Queen; and Gary Culig, Shelly Bordas, Jennifer Forsyth, Brian Upton, and Geoffrey Kent are alternately awkward and impetuous as the other kids, irascible as bone-crushing monsters, and appropriately unique as a host of other characters.

You'll have to hurry to enjoy the Arvada Center's The BFG (Big Friendly Giant). It closes May 7th. 720-898-7200.

Bob Bows