KID BEAT : ‘The Littlest Wizard’ Needs Magic Touch

Mary Louisa Cappelli’s “The Big Adventure of the Littlest Wizard” could be a terrific play about sibling rivalry. If only her Santa Monica Children’s Theatre production at the Powerhouse Theatre matched her script.

Merlin (Morgan Nagler), who’s jealous of little brother Max (Marcello)--”I used to be the king before my brother came”--sets out to find Max another home, in the jungle, with pirates, and in a vaguely Middle Eastern palace, until finally, the two recognize their love for each other.

Nagler, 13, handles the audience with confidence and cuddly 5-year-old Marcello has his role down fine, but that’s not enough. Doug Marsh’s set is bargain basement and Wayne Wagner’s choreography only shines in the raucous pirate spoof, as if the adult cast is happiest there. Kimberly Shivers in particular is a kick as a pirate wench, her performance a sharp contrast to an earlier ensemble role, undermined by her too-revealing costume.

Overall, even lots of audience participation doesn’t make up for the show’s hastily-put-together look and lack of sparkle.

* “ The Big Adventure of the Littlest Wizard,” Powerhouse Theatre, 3116 2nd St., Santa Monica, Saturday, 1 p.m. Ends Nov. 30. $6. (310) 459-8942. Running time: 1 hour, 10 minutes.