Rumplestiltskin
Guest review by Georgy Jamieson at Suffolk Theatre
Eastern Angles always like to take a slightly different approach to their Christmas show and although Rumplestiltskin is a family show (recommended for Age 7+) this is no panto.
This is a traditional fairy tale told in a non traditional way.
If that doesn’t make sense then you’ll just have to go and see it and it’ll all become clear.
Kevin Dyer’s script and direction has several twists on the Grimm fairytale and Patrick Dineen’s music compliments it perfectly, as both are quirky, fun and more than a trifle dark in places.
The Miller boasts that his daughter can spin straw into gold and this tall tale makes its way to the King who commands that the girl create the precious metal for him, and locks her in a tower until she does so. Giving up all hope of performing this impossible task, she’s visited three times by a magical being who helps her out, at a price.
Jon Bonner plays The Miller and The Housekeeper both with great comic timing and incredible physicality – look out for the ladder scene – I was on the front row and had my heart in my mouth – this was slapstick at it’s best.
Maia Elsey is a delight as The Miller’s Daughter with a rich Suffolk accent and sweet singing voice, she is a feisty heroine who mends roofs, feeds the livestock and takes no nonsense.
Joanna Brown is mischievously mysterious as Rumplestiltskin, with a wonderfully expressive face and eyes, she is wicked, playful and captivating to watch.
Completing the cast is Will Castle as the spoilt brat of a King. He is like a baby with his teddies and toys, which he literally throws out of the pram, when he doesn’t get his own way. He steals the show in places and brings a lot of laughter to the piece.
With staging on either side of the action you really do feel like you are part of the show – highlighted when the cast come to chat before the performance starts – and the Sir John Mills Theatre space is used ingeniously.
This is a richly dark and magical story that thrills and scares as well as making you laugh. It proves that family theatre doesn’t have to be twee but can be inventive and steeped in traditional storytelling to excite young audiences.
FOR FULL SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE
Photography credit: Mike Kwasniak