As parents, we often struggle with imposing limits on "screen time," especially in the summertime. We long for our children to spend more time outdoors, playing, and being imaginative. At the same time, we are easily distracted by our own "screens," from our smartphones to our tablets to our computers.

"Grimm!" the children's musical through July 25 at Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre, addresses those concerns in a fun and playful way, and easily appeals to all ages, not just young children.

On a recent summer morning, I brought my eight-year-old daughter, Annabelle, her best friend, Lily, and my 12-year- old niece, Jordyn, to a performance of "Grimm!" Annabelle and Lily quickly took seats on the carpeted mats, placed right at the front of the stage amid the action. Jordyn sat behind them in the tiered adult seating.

There was no long wait for the performance to begin. At 10 a.m. sharp, the Grimm Brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm, appeared on stage.

They are played by two of the show's creators, Christopher Scheer and Ora Fruchter of the Doppelskope Theatre Company. The third creator, composer Toby Singer, accompanies the show on piano.

Scheer and Fruchter, dressed in fantastical fairy tale costumes, embodied their roles perfectly. Jacob's red clown nose caught Lily and Annabelle's attention straight away. Jacob and Wilhelm warn the audience of the dangers of the mysterious Blue Glowing Madness and to not to "let its song put you to sleep."

Soon the play's main character, Charlotte, is revealed, played with impish energy by Lily Fryburg. Charlotte does her best to keep her father's attention as he reads her a bedtime story from "Grimm's Fairy Tales." Much to Charlotte's dismay, he is continually distracted by the pings of his iPhone (the Blue Glowing Madness).

Charlotte falls asleep and is drawn into the fairy tale world, where she meets Wilhelm and Jacob, the Papier-mâché marionette, Rumplestiltskin, and Squeak, an adorable little fluffy ball of a puppet. Squeak is always running off. Annabelle and Lily and the rest of the children in the audience had a lot of fun helping the play's characters find him, shouting out his location to them.

Catchy songs (by composer Toby Singer, with lyrics by Fruchter) are peppered throughout the play. "Turn It Into Gold," sung by Rumpelstiltskin (Josh Shapiro), is a highlight. "When life is not what you thought it would be, turn it into gold," he sings, a lesson for all of us at every age. The piano is a lovely accompaniment to his and all of the show's songs.

Grimm Brothers Jacob and Wilhelm talk directly to the audience, letting them know that the curse of the Blue Glowing Madness is "ruining the stories." Revealed in a beautifully choreographed dance of light made from lit iPhones and iPads, the Blue Glowing Madness is hypnotizing.

Despite its alluring light, the Blue Glowing Madness is defeated by Charlotte with the help of her friends. She returns to her father for a rousing sing-song finale, "I'm Gonna Tell My Own Story," as the play's characters gleefully take the stage.

With quick changing and colorful sets reminiscent of the pages of an old storybook, "Grimm!" is a feast for the eyes, while the voices are a joy for the ear.

Jordyn absolutely loved the play as much as Annabelle and Lily did, and happily joined the actors at the meet and greet following the show, eager to get to know the actors behind the characters.

The actors stay in character, sign autographs and pose for pictures at no extra cost. There is a 45-minute storytelling workshop, also at no extra charge. Reservations for the workshop are suggested as space is limited.

Overall, "Grimm!" is a wonderful way to spend a summer morning or afternoon, and an excellent chance to spend some much needed time away from our smartphones and screens. Beware their Blue Glowing Madness.

Tickets: Muhlenberg College box office, Trexler Pavilion for Theater and Dance, 2400 Chew St., Allentown; muhlenberg.edu/SMT; 484-664-3333.