BANISHING BOREDOM'S EASY WITH A CLASSIC STORY >> DELIGHTFUL TAILS AT THIS 'TOLLBOOTH' 'The Phantom Tollbooth' appears at the Kennedy Center A whimsical and witty tale of what makes life interesting: 'The Phantom Tollbooth' hits D.C. CAROL PRATT Date published: 11/29/2007 By COLLETTE CAPRARA FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR For more than 40 years, Norton Juster's classic work, "The Phantom Tollbooth" has carried thousands of young readers into a topsy-turvy world of hilarious hazards. Now, area families will have an opportunity to experience the adventures of young Milo and his fantastic transporting device live onstage, in the world premiere of its musical version at the Kennedy Center. The musical production follows the book closely: The story was adapted for stage by a dynamic duo--Juster himself and Pulitzer- and Grammy Award-winning composer Sheldon Harnick. As the curtain parts, we are introduced to Milo, a boy with a room packed with toys--and a life filled with boredom. That all changes when a surprise package appears, bearing "one genuine turnpike tollbooth" (with some assembly required). For Milo and his little electric car, that tollbooth provides a threshold to a land of quirky kingdoms. A feud between rivaling sibling kings of the realms of Dictionopolis (where words reign supreme) and Digitopolis (where numbers are the primary thing) has resulted in the banishment of princesses Rhyme and Reason--and the introduction of strange mutations in reasoning, sights and sounds. Accompanied by newfound companions, Tock, a literal watchdog, and a bloviating Humbug, Milo accepts the quest of returning the princesses to their realms and restoring order, harmony and meaning. That, of course, is no small challenge, and it ultimately means confronting a host of demons that occupy the Mountain of Ignorance. These include such menaces as Terrible Trivium (whose trap is useless tasks such as filling in all the o's in a book), the demon of Insincerity and, worst of all, the Senses Taker, the ultimate bureaucrat with multiplying mounds of records and forms to complete. Ultimately, armed only with a dictionary and a pencil, Milo wins victory over such life-sapping demons. The kingdoms are restored to order, and, perhaps more importantly, Milo returns home with an awakened sense of value and meaning in life. Translating a written work that is packed with puns and double entendres into a live stage performance was a challenge, but one that was successfully met. For example, in creating a character that would represent the Mathemagician who ruled Digitopolis, "We hit upon the idea that kids recognize Albert Einstein, with that moppy grey hair and mustache," said Tim McDonald who directs the musical. "So we included the flowing robe but added Einstein features as well as a ginormous 7-foot Ticonderoga No. 2 pencil." While unforgettably entertaining and hilarious, "The Phantom Tollbooth" also carries a valuable message. "Milo finally battles the demon in an amazing Douglas Fairbanks-type sword fight, where all he has is a tiny pencil," said McDonald. "But when he believes in himself, the pencil transforms into a sword, and his dictionary transforms into a shield. That event completely defines the story and its theme: Anything is possible if you don't believe it is impossible." Like the book it was based on, "The Phantom Tollbooth" musical has multiple levels of meaning and will appeal to audiences of all ages--which is especially important for adults. For as McDonald says, "Those demons just get bigger as we get older!" Collette Caprara is a freelance writer who lives with her family in Spotsylvania County.