By Cynthia Jessup

By Cynthia Jessup
Whether you grew up reading the classics by choice or by necessity, everyone can enjoy the entertainment when theater blends those fiction tales with reality. Coming up in the Northern Virginia area, four classics will be adapted for the stage.Fans of all ages can attend these performances, and what better way to experience an old favorite or create a new fan?
Gunston Arts Center, Arlington
Thursday-Saturday through Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday matinees through Feb. 7, 2 p.m.
Avant Bard presents a modern take on Shakespeare’s comedy of taboo love and troublesome fairies. Director Randy Baker brings to life Shakespeare’s classic using Indonesian-inspired shadow puppets accompanied by an actor-driven percussion orchestra. These comical and outlandish puppets create the atmosphere of another world while feeding the imaginations of those young and old.
Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, Arlington
Feb. 27-March 6, times vary
In Encore’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel, young Jim Hawkins leaves his simple life in search of adventure with a treasure map left behind by an mysterious sea captain. Jim joins a band of sailors as he embarks on his quest to find the treasure before pirates do. Tapping into a child’s growth of individuality, this performance will speak in volumes to children at heart.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
George Mason University Concert Hall, Fairfax
Saturday, March 26, 8 p.m.
Well-known detective Sherlock Holmes, from the novel by Arthur Conan Doyle, takes the stage in this riveting tale of deception, suspense and ingenuity that will ignite your imagination.Quick-witted and level-headed, Holmes and his partner, Dr. Watson, take it upon themselves to solve the mysteries of London. Discovering new things while on an adventure of discovery with your best friend is a dream come true for many a young person.