(Pic by Val Adamson)
Well done to cast and
crew for this fabulous, festive, fairy tale musical! A story for the ages, for
all ages! (Review by Shannon Kenny)
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is given a fairy-tale spin in this delightful adaptation produced by Durban's Young Performers' Project. Dickens' enduring characters are cast in fairy-tale roles. We have Ebenezer Scrooge as the Big Bad Wolf; the Crachits as Prince Phillip and Cinderella Charming; Jacob Marley as Jacob Midas and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as Fairy Godmother, Old King Cole and the Queen of Hearts respectively. Big Bad Wolf's misdeeds include dissolution of a kingdom and inheritance appropriation (Prince Phillip's); home foreclosure (the Three Little Pigs'); and general meanness and a disregard for the feelings of others (everybody). The show blends well-known carols with original music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur and Scott DeTurk. Daisy Spencer is director and choreographer, with Des Govender as musical director and production manager.
The curtain opens on our narrator, Mother Goose - played by Mackenzie Jahnig - who introduces the story and the fabulous cast of fairy-tale characters who join her for the rollicking company number, Once upon a time. Jahnig's Mother Goose is at once matronly and cheeky, with enough jolly-hockey-sticks energy to brighten any room. She sustains her no-nonsense perkiness throughout the show.
James Armstrong (Fake Santa in Elf; Donkey in Shrek and Pres Roosevelt in Annie) plays the suitably curmudgeonly and miserly Big Bad Wolf, skilfully making his way through his transition to the big-hearted and kindly Wolf he should be in the end. It is a joy to watch him perform in a demanding role where he is seldom off stage. James can certainly add another feather to his cap with his Big Bad Wolf/Scrooge.
The Three Little Pigs - replete with East End accents - are realised as a tight little unit of sibling rivalry, kinetic energy and sheer hip hop delight by Kaitlyn Rex (last seen as Annie in the eponymous musical), Anele Mtshali and Lungelo Ntsele. Their punchy Chinny Chin Chin was a clear audience favourite.
Matthew Brown, with a twinkle in his eye, plays Wolf's kindly nephew Jack (he of the prolific beanstalk and free-range poultry - you'll get it when you see the show). Jack and his sweet wife Mary (Ezekhethelo Zulu) consistently extend a hand of kindness - because, well, that's what kindness is - despite being rebuffed time and time again by Wolf who vilifies his nephew's magnanimity.
The Charming family - Prince Phillip (Mzwakhe Bultitude), Cinderella (Jenna van Eyssen), Hansel, Gretel and Tiny Tabitha - are true to their name. Jenna van Eyssen is a generous and multi-talented performer - also the show's assistant choreographer - who brings strength, warmth and grace to her Cinderella, so fitting for a character 'holding things together' for her penurious family. Mzwakhe Bultitude does a good job as loving family man and Wolf's bullied clerk. And how could I not notice the sniffles and teary eyes around me during the family's mellifluous God Bless Us Everyone in the second act, led by the utterly adorable Tabitha (Mackenzie Judge), Gretel (the aptly-named Larke Manto) and Hansel (Noah Bassa).
Damien Butt (Lord Farquaad in Shrek) is a hoot as the gold-clad Jacob Midas - a disco Ali-G-meets-Vanilla-Ice in gold chains and matching do-rag - there to give Wolf a heads-up on his spectral visitors and a warning about the road to perdition should the miser resist choosing a more righteous path. Multi-talented Damien is also the show's assistant musical director, and a creative talent to keep an eye on.
Wolf's transformation begins with visitations from the three truth-sayers: Fairy Godmother, an effortlessly spunky Joslyn Walters; the hilariously genial Old King Cole played by Clive Ngcobo and Thingo Dlamini as the sassy Queen of Hearts. We're introduced to Little Wolf (Christo Burger) his demure sister Fan (Scarlett Westdyk) and jolly Mr Fezziwig (Sakhiwesihle Shibe), Wolf's first employer.
Some delightfully magical moments include a pas de deux with a young adult Wolf (Nicolas Steyn) and Goldilocks (Jasmine Theron) and the children's chorus of the most darling Dickensian waifs who seamlessly float in and out of scenes, their voices ever so sweetly drifting out into the audience. All the big cast numbers featuring the main and supporting ensemble cast come together just gorgeously, every performer perfectly placed.
Kathy Singery once more pulls out all the stops as costumier, bringing sartorial magic to the production. Nicolene Steyn's set design is simple and effective. Dylan Heaton's lighting design compliments the action beautifully and Ant Govender's sound design ably supported the story.
Daisy Spencer's direction and choreography once more allows her performers to shine like the stars they are and Des Govender has all in fine voice. Kudos!
Of course, in the end, our Big Bad Wolf is convinced of the error of his ways and not only restores in full what was rightfully theirs to those he's cheated, but builds a bridge to heal the rift he's caused with those who love him - and whom he realises he loves, too.
The final medley had the audience on their feet and clapping along. Happiness!
This show has all that you would want from a Christmas musical - delight and melancholy, comfort and joy; a grumpy anti-hero who's not so scary the littlies will be terrified; popular fairy-tale characters entertaining us with jokes and puns aplenty; huge dollops of Christmas cheer and a very, very happy ending that reminds us that Love is what makes us truly rich.
Well done to cast and crew for this fabulous, festive, fairy tale musical! A story for the ages, for all ages! – Shannon Kenny
A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol - The Musical runs in the Playhouse Drama until December 21 as follows:
Tues 9 Dec – 14h30
Wed10 Dec – 14h30
Thurs 11 Dec – 14h30
Fri 12 Dec – 14h30
Sat 13 Dec – 11h00 and 14h30
Sun 14 Dec – 14h30
Tues 16 Dec – 14h30
Wed 17 Dec – 14h30
Thurs 18 Dec – 14h30
Fri 19 Dec – 14h30
Sat 20 Dec – 11h00 and 14h30
Sun 21 Dec – 14h30
A Fairytale Christmas
Carol is presented by The Young Performers Project, The Playhouse Company
and Pioneer.
Tickets (R180 to R230): Webtickets (please book through Webtickets, and not through any other ticketing agent)
Show is 75 minutes. And there is one interval.
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