DANVILLE — A traditional fairy tale gets a modern — and humorous — twist in the Red Mask Children’s Theatre production of “Snow White & Friends.”

At rehearsal last week, adults and children agreed the audience will have a good time — and so will the cast.

“It’s a very fun play,” director Amanda Coutant said. “It’s still very much like the Snow White story everyone knows, but with some fun twists.”

This 1994 version of the Snow White story, adapted by Craig Sodaro, puts a modern spin on the classic tale.

There still is a vain queen who wants to be the most beautiful in the land, a cottage with seven dwarves, an enchanted forest and a sleeping poison with a kiss for an antidote.

The one-hour play will be performed this week for schools, and then opens to the public at 7 p.m. Friday. There also are two showings on Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m.

“It’s pretty fun,” said Amy Mills, 10, who portrays the magic mirror.

“I talk to the queen and finally tell her how ugly she is,” Amy said with a grin.

Lucas Toole, 12, agreed the play has been a lot of fun. At rehearsal, he was wandering around the set wearing a gargoyle mask, and said his role is to sit around and annoy Snow White.

Student director Grace Black, 14, said, “It’s really funny. It has a lot of modern humor.”

The cast includes 25 young people from area schools, who are playing the parts of Snow White, the wicked queen, Prince Charming, dwarves, gargoyles and forest animals.

The youngsters range from newcomers to veterans, Coutant said, adding the older ones are taking the younger children under their wings.

“The cast members are young, energetic and willing to do anything,” Coutant said.

She’s worked with children a lot, including in her job at the Two-by-Two Christian Early Education Center.

“You have to be firm with them, but you have to have fun,” she said of the young actors. “Then they give you everything you want on stage.”

Coutant, 24, has directed children’s shows for Danville Light Opera, but this is her first official Red Mask show. She’s been acting since fourth grade, when she appeared in “Doctor Doolittle.”

Since then, she has performed in a number of Red Mask plays, and has been involved with other children’s productions.

Coutant is impressed with the amount of talent in the cast. “It’s amazing. I can’t wait to see where these kids will go when they get older,” she said. “It’s so natural to them.”

The children have been working hard since rehearsals started April 10, she said.

Amy, a student at Northeast Elementary Magnet School, is making her acting debut in “Snow White.”

“I like it. It’s fun. I’ve made a lot of friends,” she said.

The experience has made her want to do other plays, such as a DLO summer musical. Her mother, Charlie Hester, helps apply the makeup.

Lucas, a student at St. Mary’s in Westville, has been in three other plays. He plays both gargoyles No. 2 and 4 in “Snow White,” and is considering an acting career.

“It’s fun to get on stage and perform before other people,” he said. He is the son of Doug and Jennifer Toole, who are involved in the production.

Grace, a student at St. Paul’s School, has been in 14 Red Mask and three DLO productions. She’s serving as student director, helping out Coutant.

Grace hopes to make acting a career, saying, “I like the stage. I like playing somebody else, being another person.”

Red Mask typically has two children’s productions each year — one in the spring, and one in the fall.

FYI

“Snow White & Friends” will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at the Kathryn Randolph Theatre.

The box office will be open an hour before each show. General admission tickets are $3 each.