RUMFORD – “Code Red! Code Red! Juvenile intrusion!” shouted 10-year-old Erich Zurhorst into a small walkie-talkie.

What made the audience at Thursday’s Children’s Theater performance of “Toy Story” suddenly bust out laughing was not the words alone, but rather the image of Zurhorst stridently emulating a grown-up’s voice.

The Andover youth and two other boys, Caleb Gavin and Ronnie Russell, played the roles of the Army men toys from the popular 1995 animated movie by Pixar.

Thirty-eight children performed roles ranging from sheep and Mr. Potato Head to a slinky dog and mutant toys, during two shows in the municipal building auditorium. Four other youths helped with the production.

“The one thing about this program is that it’s all kids. There are no adults leading them up there,” said Children’s Theater director Nancy O. DeMilner of Peru.

New this year was a large stage curtain and a stage that had been wired for sound, thanks to the family and friends of Emma Viger. She passed away on Aug. 20, 2003.

Their donations in her memory enabled the purchase of a sound system for use by the Rumford Public Library’s Children’s Theater, DeMilner said.

“It’s very important for the kids to have a sound system up there,” she said.

When the play opened, the toys were frozen in position while Andy vigorously play-acted a western scene using Cowboy Woody, who was deftly played by 12-year-old Carl Zurhorst. Josh Louvat convincingly played Andy.

Among the many other memorable scenes were performances by Cam Welch as Syd, the neighborhood bully, and Chelsea DeRoehn as Syd’s sister Hannah; Richard Russell as Buzz Lightyear, and Sean Baumgartel as Mr. Potato Head.

DeRoehn’s Hannah fully embodied the essence of “cute,” which contrasted sharply with Welch’s hilarious, zesty portrayal of nefarious Syd.

Hannah’s tea scene with Richard Russell was priceless when the young girl daintily dressed a moping Lightyear in a large, poofy women’s hat and silky apron.

The play started out at a slow pace, but soon quickened when Carl Zurhorst “came to life” in a rivalry between Woody and spaceman Buzz. Precise, rapid-fire dialogue exchanges between Zurhorst and Richard Russell, coupled with comedic timing, body language and facial expressions, kept the audience – and other young actors and actresses on stage – laughing as the 45-minute play rolled merrily along.

“They were so cute,” said Pam Daigle of Rumford after the performance. Her favorite scene, she said, was when Woody, in a fit of jealous rage, threw his rival’s spaceship out the window of Andy’s Room with Lightyear spontaneously chasing it, jumping through the window and off the stage into Syd’s yard below.

Young girls Chelsea Blanchard of Rumford and Hannah Pierce of Poland, who came with Daigle, said they liked Bo-Peep, who was played by 9-year-old Samantha Morse.

Erich and Carl’s mother, Mary Zurhorst, praised DeMilner’s work in teaching acting to River Valley youths. Her sons have participated in the Children’s Theater productions for four years.

“They learn so much from her. I think she’s a real asset to this community. She really gives a lot,” Mary Zurhorst said.