Dr. Karen A. Singleton concedes that the message in "Rachel Carson Saves The Day!," the multimedia show children at Penn Hills' Dible Elementary School watched recently, might not reach all of the children in the audience at first.

But when Rachel, played by Pittsburgh equity actress Karen Baum, goes from demure early 20th-century schoolgirl to a superwoman-style character who defeats Chemical Man in hand-to-hand combat, most of the third- through fifth-graders in the Dible gymnasium Thursday cheered Rachel on in the battle for a clean environment.

Dr. Singleton, who is associate director for outreach and education with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Center for Environmental Oncology, is happy the message always seems to get through. At the end of the show, nearly all of the children raised their hands when Dr. Singleton asked how many of them have used a spray to kill a bug or a weed.

"[The play] is done to raise awareness about chemicals and pesticides in the environment," she said. The Cancer Institute funds the traveling production.

Rachel Carson is the heroine because she's from Springdale, a place not too far from the children's own homes, and her most famous book, "Silent Spring," and other writings helped stop the use of DDT and other poisons in the United States in the 1960s.

The scientist is portrayed as a bright young girl who loves nature and to read and write about her observations.

The multimedia presentation includes slides ranging in subject from the Carson Homestead to nature photos and music behind the actress. It portrays the Rachel Carson character as a smart, concerned girl, then a grown woman who takes on polluters and big industry because of concern for the environment, the birds, insects and water life.

Chemical Man tries to stop Rachel from her crusade, but she prevails, accompanied by cartoon balloons with "Pow" and "Blam" in them.

The message was clear to Dible third-grader Kenya Davis, who watched intently. "She was a good writer and a good scientist," Kenya said. She'd like to read more about the play's heroine, she said.

The cast and crew of "Rachel Carson Saves The Day!" are members of the Shakespeare-in-the-Schools program. Playwrights Attilio Favorini and Lynne Conner, both faculty members at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Theatre Arts, adapted their play "In the Garden of Live Flowers" for the production. Pitt visiting lecturer Gianni Down designed the production, and Nona Gerard, Pitt theater instructor and part-time associate professor at Point Park University, staged it.

The production is normally sponsored by Parent Teacher Association groups in the schools and has visited a number of schools throughout the region this semester, including several other Penn Hills elementaries.

In addition to the youngsters, several adults associated with the play say the subject matter is an eye-opener. Stage manager Kristin Barca said working with the play is a continuing learning experience. "I learn from what the kids ask," she said.

Ms. Baum said while she'd heard of Rachel Carson, she didn't realize Ms. Carson's importance in U.S. environmental history until she starting working on the play. Neither she nor Chemical Man, who is actually Perry Tiberio, a Pitt graduate who will soon start medical school, have ever been to the Carson Homestead, though it's only about 20 miles away from the Pittsburgh city limits. Both Ms. Baum and Mr. Tiberio said a visit there would be a good idea. He said the whole experience with the play has been a rewarding one.

"I have learned a lot," he said.