Recap / Kids Incorporated S 6 E 2 The Storybook House

Episode 2 of Season 6 sees one of Kids Incorporated's more unusual episodes take place as Richie helps a girl named Auburn^note played by Shonda Whipple; who though never a regular on anything (though about the time of this episode's premiere; she had been cast in the Jessie Harper role in the pilot of the short-lived ABC sitcom Free Spirit (1989); only for Whipple to be replaced before the series was picked up by a young Alyson Hannigan) was one of the more active young actresses during the 1980s and early 1990s that had gotten lost on the way to her grandmother's house (second appearance for Ruth Buzzi); only to discover along the way that there's more to Auburn than meets the eye.

The episode begins with a performance of "Two Hearts" when a girl in a red dress walks in. Nothing unusual so far (though she quickly catches Richie's attention during the song) except for her disappearing before Richie can say anything to her. His attempts to tell the others are greeted with skepticism (understandable considering Richie's previous penchants for exaggerations in the past). Soon after, though, the girl - introducing herself as Auburn - meets the others but quickly breaks down in tears, as she was on her way to her grandmother’s house and somehow ended up here, with the last thing she remembered being standing outside of a house. Richie promises - following the next song - that he and his friends will be there to help (“Walk on Water”).

The quest then begins at a rather spooky site; which quickly freaks Kenny (claiming he had piano lessons) and Robin out before Stacy had to hold them back, followed by a loud clap of thunder freaking everyone out; especially with the eyes of the wolf’s head over the doors glowing red. We then see the kids enter the abandoned mansion (which appears to incorporate the twice used “door set”); and behind door #1: A train (likely from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer vault}. A now curious Stacy sees her attempt to convince Robin to see what’s behind the second door. Behind Door #2 is…Pinocchio^note played by one of the dancers: Kimberly Duncan jumping out hoping for a place to hide while simultaneously claiming nothing was wrong (then trying to hide his nose growing). Following a glimpse of rather creepy eyes in a painting above Devyn, she understandably wants no part of wanting to scope things out further (Kenny asks “Where’s your sense of adventure?”; to which Devyn answers “I left it at home.”). At this point; the Mad Hatter^note played by another dancer; Joseph Conrad appears, having gone on the run from a birthday party due to the Queen of Hearts calling for his head. Finally, we come back to Richie and Auburn, with Richie wanting to continue even though he concedes to being a “little” afraid (“Someone Who Believes in You”).

Shortly after this, the doors open with Auburn convinced this is the way - and sure enough, Richie and Auburn find Auburn’s grandmother; and shortly after the grandmother mentions Pinocchio and the Mad Hatter, they “pop” up. It’s at this point Richie puts 2 and 2 together and recognizes Auburn is Little Red Riding Hood (though Auburn preferred her name to Little Red Riding Hood) before realizing something’s missing. As if on cue, the Big Bad Wolf^note Cory Tyler shows up, setting the stage for “You’re Not King Kong”. After the Wolf’s defeat, the kids now have to figure out a way home - with Grandma suggesting following the yellow brick road…with the others calling for Richie just before he and Auburn could kiss.

Returning to the P*lace, the others tell a skeptical Flip what happened (Flip’s response: “You guys need a vacation.”) when we see Richie holding a newspaper with a story on the anniversary of Pretsky Mansion…and that day marked 20 years since the mansion’s demolition…and he won’t see Auburn again. Then, a woman arrives asking if anyone had seen her two sisters for a ball. The woman’s name: Cindy (short for Cinderella) - and Richie is smitten (to which Robin remarks “Here we go again”) before leading to a surprisingly not-bowdlerized “Dancing With Myself” to close the episode.

Songs performed in this episode:

• “Two Hearts” (Phil Collins cover; lead vocals by Kenny)
• "Walk on Water" (Eddie Money cover; lead vocals by Richie)
• "Someone Who Believes in You"^note co-written by Carole King and ex-husband Gerry Coffin (Russell Hitchcock^note lead vocalist for Air Supply cover; lead vocals by Richie)
• "You're Not King Kong" (Kids Incorporated original; lead vocals by Richie, Robin, Kenny and Devyn)
• "Dancing With Myself" (Generation X cover^note after the band broke up, Billy Idol would re-record the song as his first release as a solo act; lead vocals by Stacy, Devyn and Kenny)

Tropes associated with this episode:

• Almost Kiss: Richie gets called away just before he and Auburn can kiss.
• Face Your Fears: Richie experiences this moral in wanting to continue search for Auburn’s grandmother’s house even though he was a little afraid.
• Getting Crap Past the Radar: Another instance of a song, in this case "Dancing With Myself", with suggestive lyrics kept intact.
• Storybook Episode: Primarily with Little Red Riding Hood; though with elements of Pinocchio; Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Cinderella sprinkled in throughout the episode.

Characters the kids encounter in addition to Auburn and her grandmother:

• Pinocchio: Kimberly Duncan
• The Mad Hatter: Joseph Conrad
• The Big Bad Wolf: Cory Tyler
• Queen of Hearts: Tiffany Robbins
• Native American character (possibly Tiger Lily from Peter Pan): Leilany Legamy
• Sean O’Riordian’s role is uncertain.
• The actress playing Cinderella is not credited and her identity is unknown.