www.backstagechristchurch.nz

Backstage:Review - Hansel and Gretel

| Kineta Booker

 

Hansel and Gretel. Presented by The Court Theatre. Written and directed by Dan Bain. Reviewed by Kineta Booker, Backstage Christchurch.

 

Going by The Court Theatre's promotional material for Hansel and Gretel, you'll be enjoying something similar to the Brothers Grimm fairytale these school holidays. But, folks, you're in for a pleasant twist. 

 

Dan Bain's version is a bit more "Dan Bain" – using clowning, music and sound affects to tell the traditional tale in an untraditional way. The classic story remains, with a boy and girl led into the woods by their father - who can no longer afford to keep them, but all words are taken away and replaced with action and the use of radio announcements.

 

So, did it work? Ask any 3-7 year old in the audience, and their thunderous, heart-led giggles spoke for themselves. Kids love clowning. They enjoy being able to figure out the story for themselves. And kids love farts.

 

The audible feast of music and sound effects, along with the lighting, helped tell the story, and worked especially well when transitioning into the forrest. The costumes fit well with the silent theme - Hansel and Gretel dressed as clowns, and their father dressed in a Marcel Marceau-esque way.

 

Because it was all mime, there was a moment of crowd participation that didn't quite work. John Armstrong (Hansel) worked in earnest to encourage the young audience to copy the tune he'd just played on a glockenspiel. Thank goodness for parents who eventually pulled together to help him out. However, the more experienced Jared Corbin (Dad/Witch/King of Birds) had the audience, almost quite literally, eating (bread) out of his hand when it came to needing audience help. And it was great to see Millie Hanford (Gretel) back on The Court stage – for the second time in a row as a clown, after A Paintbox of Clowns earlier this year.

 

Dan Bain has done well to keep this once upon a time tale alive, with this fresh twist. Certainly an entertaining way to spend an hour during the spring school holidays.