HANSEL AND GRETEL. To 15 January.
Northampton
HANSEL AND GRETEL
by Phil Porter story by Phil Porter and Paul King
Royal Theatre To 15 January 2005
Mon-Sat various dates 2.15pm & 7pm except 31 Dec 1pm & 5pm, 5-6 Jan 10.15am & 2.15pm no performance 1 Jan
Audio-described 4 Jan 7pm
BSL Signed 11 Jan 7pm
Runs 2hr 15min One interval
TICKETS: 01604 624811
www.royalandderngate.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 24 December
The Royal's earning itself as honourable a place in pantoland as London's E15 and Bubble's yearly treat at Greenwich.Along with last year's poetic Cinderella, this year's very different, yet equally impeccable Royal panto helps establish the theatre's Christmas shows as distinguished and distinct. Fast-moving, coherent and witty, Phil Porter's script must be an actor's delight. For once, here's a script where adult humour means wit (accessible to most young spectators too) rather than innuendo.
Some story elements go; the siblings only have one visit to the forest, thanks to dim Hansel's unilateral decision to leave a trail of birdseed instead of the agreed stones. A disaster that at least introduces them to their eventual salvation, Geoffrey Lumb's extremely well-bred Rory Bird.
Lumb's a decent fellow too as reluctant witch-helper Humbug, obtuse in his way as Hansel, and needing hefty hints from co-worker Strawberry Tart before they get down to sweet nothings behind the set. Kali Peacock has a splendid time alternating Strawberry with her would-be Glasgow-gangland Bat, engaging in fights with the audience, laced with threats about knowing where we live (Aye, hen, and we know where you hang oot too.)
Add Ed Waters' cookery-fixated dad, with his talking implements (including a sponge with a soft spot for him there's so much unfulfilled desire about in this piece) and Georgina Roberts' relishing her quietly threatening, Miss Havisham-like Witch, and there's plenty to enjoy.
But the central pair make it hilarious. Elizabeth Bower's Gretel is clearly the mature, sensible one. Yet, with delightful irony, she's the one who swallows step-mum's drug-laced toffee and falls asleep in the forest. Hansel's too dim to do even that properly. Matt Green's ever-hopeful features and bright-idea voice stand in comic counterpoint to the boy's hilariously innate dimness.
Is a song about the glories of stuffing your face right before the interval a marketing ploy? If so, it's undermined when Hansel in the Witch's cage eats himself into lasting obesity. Is this a theme? In so sassy a script, anything's possible.
Add Steve Tiplady's puppets and Colin Richmond's dark-hued sets, relieved only by the dangerously bright gingerbread-house, Jane Watkins' fine alpine-trio score plus Paul King's subtly witty direction and Northampton has an outstanding show.
Father: Ed Waters
Gretel: Elizabeth Bower
Hansel: Matt Green
Mother: Georgina Roberts
Rory Bird/Humbug: Geoffrey Lumb
Jezebel Bat/Strawberry Tart: Kali Peacock
Director: Paul King
Designer: Colin Richmond
Lighting: Oliver Fenwick
Composer: Jane Watkins
Puppetry: Steve Tiplady
2004-12-26 16:57:57