Dr. Sprocket's Incredible Storytelling Machine

An energetic performance and some fun audience participation are a recipe for a playful celebration of imagination and story in Dr. Sprocket's Incredible Storytelling Machine.

Performer/creator Alan Fehr plays Dr. Sprocket, a slightly mad scientist who needs help literally cooking up a story. As the youngsters in the audience help him out with suggestions and a few on-stage appearances (makes sure your little Fringers sit up front or on an aisle if they want to get picked to join in), they'll also learn about the ingredients of a story, like what a "protagonist," "antagonist," and "genre" are.

Fehr works frantically to win his audience over, and largely succeeds. He's fast on his feet, good-natured, and generous about letting the kids be part of the show.

The story he ends up telling is a bit anti-climactic after the set-up - like a lot of cooking, the preparation is actually more enjoyable than the end result. But this show, best suited for kids five and up, offers lots of family fun thanks to the good doctor's energy.