WARDEN — What actually happened to Rumpelstiltskin and the pretty princess and that whole spinning-straw-into-gold thing will be the subject of an original play premiering tonight at Warden school. The curtain goes up on “Rumpelstiltskin’s Babysitting Service” at 7 p.m. tonight, Friday and Saturday. A matinee is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.

All performances are on the stage at Warden Elementary School, 101 W. Beck Way.

The original play and music are the work of Warden High School senior Jandica Backell. The play is her senior project, said her father Ed. Her mom Jami is the director.

Everybody knows the fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin, the nasty little imp who can spin straw into gold and who tries to steal the queen’s firstborn child. He has "a terrible reputation around children. But it’s undeserved,” Ed Backell said, and the play is the story of what really happened.

What really happened, Jami Backell said, is that Rumpelstiltskin sought the advice of fellow fairytale characters about running a daycare business. He talked over his business plan with the Old Woman in the Shoe, Hansel and Gretel, Jack and Jill and the Pied Piper, among others. “And everything goes terribly wrong,” she said.

The Warden drama club always produces a musical in the spring – and besides, singing is fun, Jami Backell said. "I have a very talented group of kids, and they love to sing and do shows." The play includes a little blues, a little swing, a little 1980s rock ’n’ roll, Ed Backell said, and a little more besides.

Thursday night is Student Night, where admission is free for students with an ASB card. For the remaining performances tickets are $7 per person, and $20 per family (three people or more). Tickets will be available at the door.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].