Written by: Naomi Lawson (@NaomiMLawson)
Unicorn Theatre, London
****
As the days get
colder and the wind more biting, the Unicorn Theatre invites us into the warm
to share the festivities in this storytelling bonanza for ages 6 plus. Jemma
Kennedy presents her adaptation of Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, the ultimate tale of mistaken identity
which sees one young boy travel from rags to riches and another the opposite
way entirely. Under Selina Cartmell’s direction, the ensemble (led by twins
Danielle and Nichole Bird as the young Prince Edward and Tom Canty) brings the
glitz and grime of the Tudor world to life.
The show is
presented as a tale told by a group of players, which allows for the multitude
of character changes (eight actors, around forty roles). Garance Marneur’s mobile
circular walled set, with its peepholes, cubbyholes and open spaces, perfectly
facilitates these role changes. Susan Kulkarni’s plain, white costumes
accompanied by painted white faces are a wonderful blank canvas that allow for
embellishment when needed. There is excellent characterisation from all, with a
wild array of (utterly convincing) accents, notable in Nicholas Boulton as the
tyrannical John Canty, the gluttonous King Henry VII, a Spanish ambassador and
an Irish prison keeper, to name but a few of his roles. Meanwhile the rest of
the cast tackle their roles with equal gusto including: poor Ma Canty and the
scooter riding Lord Chancellor (Katherine Toy); a Busker and the brave Miles
Hendon (Jake Harders); the brash Bet Canty and the future Queen Elizabeth I
(Jason Morrel); a priest, a doctor, and the Archbishop of Canterbury (Richard
Evans); a hardened rent collector and Lord Hertford (Jonathon Glew). Even the
Bird twins find time to slip into ensemble characters at certain points.
To call it panto would be unfair,
but it retains much of the fun, exaggerated characters, cross gender roles and
a slither of audience interaction that always proves successful at entertaining
young people. It happily avoids contrived attempts to reel in the adult audience,
such as sleazy jokes and innuendo, but instead relies on historical, more
intelligent quips, generating its own charm to hook the older spectator. Music
(Anthony Elvin) is used to a lively effect, with a diva number from Lady Elizabeth
and a slightly cheeky nod to Les
Miserables with a take on I Dreamed a
Dream standing out especially. The spirit of the performance cannot be
faulted, even surviving a tumble from Danielle/Nichole Bird (hard to tell which
in their Ensemble costumes) at the very end.
The pacing and plot seems a
little incoherent in the second act, sometimes a little rushed and at other
times dragging slightly and the story’s moral of equality and human kindness to
all seems rather shoehorned into that one act. The writing could be seen as clichéd
at times, however, when those thoughts strike, it’s perhaps important to
remember the show’s primary target audience. But don’t let that put you off;
it’s a dynamic, witty and warm production that definitely has plenty of space
for adult appreciation.
This production runs until 13 January 2013.
For more information: http://unicorntheatre.com/the-prince-and-the-pauper
@Unicorn_Theatre
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