THE LITTLE PRINCE. To 10 January.
London.
THE LITTLE PRINCE
by Antoine de Saint-Exupery adapted by Anthony Clark.
Hampstead Theatre To 10 January 2009.
10.15am 12, 15-17 Dec, 7-8 Jan.
2.30pm 11, 12, 15-18, 22-24, 29-31 Dec, 2, 6-9 Jan.
3pm 13, 20, 26-27 Dec, 3, 10 Jan
7pm 13, 20, 26-27 Dec, 3, 10 Jan.
Runs 2hrt 5min One interval.
TICKETS: 020 7722 9301.
www.hampsteadtheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 10 December.
Prince bites the dust.
No-one can accuse Hampstead of going with any trend. In an age of computerised graphics, the highest tec. on show is a series of still drawings suggesting a biplane crashing in the Sahara. There’s equal simplicity in the characters, from Simon Robson’s Pilot who introduces the play as an adult talking to children, before explaining how he met the other-worldly Little Prince.
And continuing through the cameo creations, These are neatly presented by Julie-Alaneh Brighten as a self-regarding Rose (the thorn-and-red-petal type), a lonely yet pompous King and a lamplighter on a planet whose orbit keeps him in constant occupation, and Christopher Staines, whose smilingly Conceited Man brings the only humour and chance for participation as everyone’s incited to applaud whenever he takes off his hat
Staines tries well at a fat businessman, but the humour (including this year’s obligatory credit crunch reference) is more forced, as with his Geographer. A friendly Fox and sympathetic yet deadly Snake both make a mark.
Robson combines nifty piano-playing with his friendly, though occasionally impatient Pilot. Yet he ends up playing the piano more than his part, often being left leaning over the instrument’s side watching the long acreage of script given to the Prince’s account of life tending volcanoes on his own planet or visiting others where he meets most of the remaining characters.
Which points to the play’s main problem. Its self-conscious poeticism isn’t in tune with modern sensibilities among the 7+ intended audience, but that needn’t stop it making an impact if it had much to say. Apart from one grindingly intrusive lecturette on the environment, the soft sadness overhanging the piece is inert. Each scene is little more than a moving illustration like those opening plane-crash drawings.
Even Jade Williams, as perfect casting as could be imagined for the title part, bringing a mix of childlike innocence and confidence, and a light yet sharp questioning manner to the role, cannot disguise the lack of variety or forward momentum on stage. Mark Vibrans’ incidental pianos score is delightful; most of his (unnecessary) songs as tuneless as their lyrics are unlyrical.
Rose/Lamplighter/King: Julie-Alaneh Brighten.
Pilot: Simon Robson.
Conceited Man/Businessman/Geographer/Snake/Fox: Christopher Staines.
Little Prince: Jade Williams.
Director: Anthony Clark.
Designer: Jessica Curtis.
Lighting: James Farncombe.
Sound: Gregory Clarke.
Musical Director: Dane Preece.
Assistant director: Sian Thomas.
2008-12-12 08:47:44