LITTLE SNOW WHITE. To 27 December.

Cumbernauld

LITTLE SNOW WHITE
by Simon Sharkey

Cumbernauld Theatre To 27 December 2003
Mon-Sat various dates 10am, 1pm, 7pm 26 Dec 5pm No performance 25 December
Runs 2hr 5min One interval

TICKETS: 01236 732887
Review: Timothy Ramsden 1 December

Grimm truths are told with hiss and boo and an impressive mirror-based set.In the borderlands of panto and play, Simon Sharkey's developed a successful annual Christmas style at Cumbernauld. It may be Stuart Paterson's influence that has this play open with full-throttle theatricality; cloaked and swirling figures covering the stage in front of a wall of ornate mirrors.

There's fashionable self-conscious storytelling too. As the forcefully mystic music fades and the stage mist gives way to brighter lighting, we meet again the Paterson pattern some friendly everyday folk. Yet they're not characters as such, but a trio of storytellers: Bob, Dug and the organising Pippa, on whom audience and lads combine to play a trick. It starts the participatory ball rolling happily.

The storyteller roles reappear when the cast debates whether to show the crueller scenes. Gearing-up the anticipation, they declare the iron necessity of stories being told in full. It's hardly likely anyone other than they very young would be really, really scared. The only dodgy moment came when a girl from the audience was asked onstage to help Snow put up the washing. She was asked if she had a boyfriend. In front of all her class. And strangers. The ensuing chocolate bar and round off applause could hardly have been compensation enough.

Snow White hangs out the washing because the wicked Queen (Anita Vettesse in louchely elegant hate-and-hiss mode) wants to banish her beauty. Which makes it strange given the extensive scullery experience which follows - that Snow White's only response when the little people of the forest ask if she's useful at domestic chores is to talk of her skill at being delicious, delightful, and delovely. This heroine's never compiled a CV.

Though the coat-turning used to turn 3 actors into 7 dwarves isn't as comic as Sharkey seems to hope, the show tells the story with colour, humour and overall coherence. Siobhan Reilly brings a natural, unsimpering sweetness to the heroine while Tony Ventre's forbidding mirror-image is offset by the contrasting duo of Robert Jack, always ready to turn into princely romantic hero, and Harry Ward with the look of a young Bob Hoskins ever eager for adventure.

Mirror/DJ/Grumpy/Lumpy: Tony Ventre
Bob/Prince/Humpy/Bumpy/Long: Robert Jack
Dug/Stumpy/Dumpy: Harry Ward
Pippa/Snow White: Siobhan Reilly
Silver/Queen: Anita Vettesse

Director: Simon Sharkey
Designer: Finlay McLay
Lighting: William M Winter
Composer/Musical Director: Karen MacIver
Assistant designer: Hayley Bennett
Costume: Maggie Miller

2003-12-02 10:36:35