A CLASSIC TALE WITH A SPECIAL TWIST; Goldilocks and the Three Bears King's Theatre, Edinburgh ***.Byline: Jonathan Trew YOU might think you know all about Goldilocks gold·i·locks pl.n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A European plant (Aster linosyris) having narrow sessile leaves and dense corymbs of small, bright yellow, discoid flower heads. and the three bears she steals from, but this new panto panto Noun pl -tos Brit informal short for pantomime (sense 1) Noun 1. panto - an abbreviation of pantomime version of the classic fairytale is only just on nodding terms with the traditional story. Most of the action is set in a struggling circus which is threatened with closure due to the evil scheming of rival circus owners Vladimir Heinkel and his vampish bidie-in, Countess Volenska. Goldilocks persuades the three bears to help save the circus but Vlad the bad and his Cruella de Vil look-alike wife have other plans. It is a bold retelling of an old story which has many high points, even if it doesn't always hit the mark as squarely as it might. Grant Stott and Jo Freer make for great baddies in their striking black and white costumes. Allan Stewart is, as always, magnificent as gallus Gallus (Caius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus) (găl`əs), d. 253 or 254, Roman emperor after 251. He fought in the eastern campaign that proved fatal to Decius. Gertie, queen of the circus and proud owner of a pair of shoes which fart when walked on. Some jokes never get old, especially for a pre-teen audience. The circus setting is a good excuse to inject some slapstick slapstick Comedy characterized by broad humour, absurd situations, and vigorous, often violent action. It took its name from a paddlelike device, probably introduced by 16th-century commedia dell'arte troupes, that produced a resounding whack when one comic actor used it to clowns, a breathtaking Mongolian acrobatic troupe and some nifty hula hoop tricks. The big top acts are eyecatching stuff but often feel as though they are there to paper over the cracks in a disjointed script. Topical gags about Amy Winehouse, a very cute baby bear and the opportunity to throw foam bricks at an army of onstage gorillas, more than makes up for the sometimes muddled plot. Naturally, the jokes are so groan-worthy that they stick in the memory much longer than you would wish. The Top Groan award goes to this exchange: Gertie: "Are you finished?" Clown: "Naw, Scottish." King's Theatre, Edinburgh, Tel: 0131 529 6000, until January 20. 'It's a bold retelling of an old story which has many high points' |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion