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Kids To Do: 'Stinky Cheeseman' and more

Once upon a time, every kid figured out that "happily ever after" is just a ploy to get them to finally go to sleep, for gosh sakes. (Well, everyone eventually figures it out except for the odd presidential candidate, and, maybe, Oprah).

Once upon a time, every kid figured out that "happily ever after" is just a ploy to get them to finally go to sleep, for gosh sakes. (Well, everyone eventually figures it out except for the odd presidential candidate, and, maybe, Oprah).

And that's why everybody loves The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Jon Scieszka's 1992 collection of fairy tale parodies such as "The Princess and the Bowling Ball," "The Really Ugly Duckling," "The Boy Who Cried Cow Patty," and, of course, the title story about a fetid feta fellow (or maybe it's a gouda guy - who wants to get close enough to find out?).

John Glore's adaptation of the book has the curdled hero, along with Jack ("of beanstalk fame"), Chicken Licken, a mash-up of Cinderella and Rumplestiltskin (shudder), and more. It's at the Arden Theatre Company to June 12. Best suited for ages 5 and older - we still have to get those small fry to sleep, after all.

10 a.m. Friday, noon and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. Second St., and continuing on a varied schedule to June 12. Tickets: $18 to $36. Information: 215-922-1122 or www.ardentheatre.org.

High flying

Students from Narberth's Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet Society and the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts team up to present Respighi's The Magic Toy Shop, a fusion of dance and acrobatics in which a little girl tries to bring two living dolls back together. This is best for ages 4 and up.

7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, 601 N. Lansdowne Ave., Drexel Hill. Tickets: $12 to $15. Information: 610-622-1189 or www.udpac.org.

Hurry, summer

Why should groundhogs have all the fun? On Martin Z. Mollusk Day, Ocean City's weather-prognosticating hermit crab mascot will predict summer's arrival, depending on whether he sees his shadow (if yes, it will be a week early). In addition to the predicting, there will be music from the Wind Chimes Band and Shelley the Mermaid, crab keepsakes for the kids, and the Atlantic Ocean.

11 a.m. Saturday next to the Music Pier, Ocean City Beach at Ninth Street, Ocean City. Admission is free. Information: 609) 399-6111 or www.ocnj.us.

mharrington@phillynews.com.