BANK OF SCOTLAND INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S THEATRE FESTIVAL 2004.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Traverse 2 To 3 June
Runs 50min No interval

Imaginative two-hand with fine use of masks, but eventually losing the plot.Germany's Puppen-Theater der Stadt Halle brings an ingenious, concise telling of this famous story for 7+. Thankfully jettisoning most of the second-hand Cinderella family fill-in, the piece is built out of the personalities of its two performers, who alternatively narrate and act out events. Later sections have them performing jointly, a visual metaphor for the characters' gradual coming together.

Neither character is scrubbed into sainthood. Beast stalks gruffly as if feeling love for Beauty is enough, and requires no evidence or demonstration. She, in turn, is an ungracious recipient of presents, without explaining her feelings. Which is how childhood quarrels and wars often start.

The intricate face-masks grow from deliberate rough edges to create character, combined with ingenious use of posture - Beauty's merchant father sags as poverty sinks in upon him, Beast's frustration is expressed through his hand-in-trouser-pocket stride.

Beast castle is set on a high-rock island, to which Beauty travels in a metal cage, a kind of crinoline-boat. She stays, sullenly protective, inside it for some time, crushing the flowers Beast brings, then stepping out with apparent attention-grabbing intentions.

Later, there's a fine dual exploration of the island - he promises visits to its heights and depths and we see them at a wind-blown stormy cliff top, she in his arms on the edge in growing trust.

Finally we learn of Beast's original transformation coming from overmuch pride in his own appearance. It's as the story moves to this later stage it seems to run out of drive, as if the points have already been made. Though it becomes a prisoner of its own early success, there's no denying the performing skill and imaginative originality in the staging; for much of the way at least, this is among the high-points of this year's Festival.

2004-06-03 16:01:59