"Busytown:" Let kids find out what people do all day

Really, "Busytown" isn't all that busy. It's a good thing.

The stage musical, which is making its premiere at Seattle Children's Theatre, is an unhurried amble through "What Do People Do All Day?" (1968), a major opus by Richard Scarry, the late author of children's books.

The adapter is Kevin Kling, a moseying sort of Minnesota humorist/philosopher. Anyone who has heard Kling on public radio, or who saw his play "How? How? Why? Why? Why?" at Seattle Repertory Theatre earlier this spring, knows that Kling is the king of droll, unhurried subtlety.

His stage version of "Busytown" is wonderful.

Four-year-olds can scream with delight when the radio-controlled picklemobile streaks across the stage. Meanwhile, their adult associates will be chuckling at actor Auston James' canny assortment of accents: Midwestern hayseed farmer, speedy Seattle brick mason, contemplative East Indian physician and European uber-gourmet baker.

Adding to the abundance of fascinating details are songs by Michael Koerner. For kids, they are funny and bouncy and -- with tricky dance interludes by Marianne Roberts -- they might be fun to try at home. For adults, the Koerner contribution is a witty tribute to showbiz over the years: ragtime, blues, Tin Pan Alley, close-harmony pop, swing, doo-wop, woozy waltz and Motown.

Just as the unhurried ramble through the heart of Busytown is getting a bit too leisurely, Kling concocts a bit of an action-adventure plot. Will Lowly the worm get that letter to Grandma on time? Will Huckle the preschool cat come up with a birthday cake for Grandma before it's too late? Will Grandma, played by Don Darryl Rivera, hurt herself when she gets carried away by her enthusiasm for hip-hop moves?

All this takes place against a scrupulously busy Scarry-ish background by set designer Jennifer Lupton.