Written by Benny Marama based on a script by Geoff Houtman
Directors: Benny Marama & Courteney Mayall
Take a one hundred and eighty-four year old fairy tale about a pea and snap it into 2019. Mush in some contemporary references, add a dash of humour and voila, the story becomes instantly modern without losing its original charm.
Award winning writer Benny Marama has reimagined Geoff Houtman’s script based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, and the resulting pantomime on at the Meteor Theatre these school holidays should appeal to children of all ages.
In true pantomime form, the Prince and the Pea provides ample opportunities for the audience to become part of the action. Yelling “boo” at the baddie (played by Marama) or “aah” at the beautiful Princess Marmalade (played by Courteney Mayall) is encouraged, and the adults enjoyed the interaction as much as the kids that were present. The cast took the audience participation in its stride and didn’t falter when unexpected comments from spellbound children were forthcoming.
It was refreshing to see a Princess, without a typical princess dress, who was more concerned with reading books than getting married. Jono Freebairn’s Queen was hilarious, and newcomer to the theatre scene Creed Fletcher charmed in his role as the Prince. Marama and Mayall’s talents shone through and their relaxed commandment of the intimate theatre setting was terrific.
A highlight of the show was Ben Sunn’s underscoring throughout. Sunn’s musicianship across a multitude of instruments and his sound effects were impeccable. The revolving set was simple and clever, and the visual appearance wasn’t too overwhelming.
The Prince and the Pea is well paced, and the running time of 50 minutes is a great length for kids. On at 10:30am and 1:00pm daily until Saturday 20 July 2019, this pantomime is worth seeing. Adults will appreciate the understated nod to current times, and children will enjoy seeing a relatable variation of a well-known story.
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