THE PRINCESS AND THE MOUSE. To 19 December.
Scarborough
THE PRINCESS AND THE MOUSE
adapted by Alan Ayckbourn
Stephen Joseph Theatre (McCarthy)
11-19 December 2002
Runs 40min No interval
Review Timothy Ramsden 19 December
A superbly happy piece for very young theatregoers.For a brief clutch of performances the Stephen Joseph is experimenting with a second Christmas show this year, one for 3+. While the McCarthy auditorium's stage is made intimate, the formal seating isn't audience friendly for 3 year olds. That apart, this short show with a narrator and puppets, is an enchanting experience and I hope its reception encourages the theatre to repeat the idea of such a piece in future years. Interest can only grow as it establishes a reputation for such high quality work for this age group.
Carol Walton enters cheerily down through the auditorium, chatting to the audience. With such a cheery person around to tell her story – the princess's tale – we know nothing serious can go wrong.
Whether they originate in the script of Ayckbourn's adaptation, or in Stephen Joseph Associate and Education Director Laurie Sansom's production, there are several Ayckbourn-like touches. The swift changing of set-pieces, or the embarrassed moments when Princess and Mouse first bump unexpectedly into each other (she's been grievously shrunk, along with her royal family, by a wicked wizard).
Then there's the more romantic moment of embarrassment when the transformed Mouse and full-size Princess meet up again. Even the puppet-King's audience-involving greetings end in a goodbye that's repeated one final time more than's necessary, reflecting so many nervous Ayckbourn characters' behaviour.
While the puppeteers cope adequately with their scripted lines, the piece's humour and story lie very much with the objects' skilful manipulation, something done extremely well, including the giant legs that represent human-size to shrunken characters.
There's also a fine interplay between the action and Walton's story-telling, reinforced on occasions by descriptive movement. A lot of careful detail has gone into making this story so finely balanced between humour and well-paced narrative. A treasure of a piece.
The Princess: Carol Walton
Puppeteers: Lee Threadgold, Ben Strickland
Director: Laurie Sansom
Designer: Pip Leckenby
Lighting: Dave Jackson
Music: John Pattison
Puppet Design: Lee Threadgold
2002-12-26 23:50:44