At first glance, “The Tomato Plant Girl” seems like a simple story about the difference between bullying and friendships: Bossy Best Friend gives orders to Little Girl, who follows them so she will fit in and not have to play alone. Little Girl eventually realizes that friendships need respect and acceptance to grow, just like tomato plants need water and sunshine.

But like Aesop’s fables  or even the old “Rocky and Bullwinkle” cartoons  Wesley Middleton’s one-act play is multileveled, and can be appreciated by adults as well as children. Bossy Best Friend calls Little Girl a “foreigner” when she doesn’t do what she wants. While children will understand the meanness of Bossy’s spirit, adults will realize the larger implication of the name-calling, shiver at how early the seeds of hatred can be planted in our children and maybe even question their own behavior.

Adrienne Lamping aptly portrays Bossy Best Friend, taking her from a likable child to a tyrant who demands that others follow her dictates. Amber McIntosh, likewise, does a good job of developing the character of Little Girl. We see Little Girl’s enthusiasm and creativity crushed under Bossy’s thumb, then revived when she realizes it’s better to play alone than to be in a friendship that is oppressive.

Hannah Ballou, as Tomato Plant Girl, provides the comic relief for the play, as she grunts words, eats dirt, spews water and refuses to be ordered around.

The costumes by Mark Reaney and the set design by David Wanner give the play a storybook feel  bright colors and imaginative, simple designs. Adding to the fantasy feel is Avraham Mor’s lighting design, which splashes a rainbow of colors on the backdrop, and Justin Hosek’s organic music.

“The Tomato Plant Girl,” directed by Jeanne Klein, will be presented at 7 p.m. Saturday in Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall.