Most of us were raised on the traditional fairytales, of which two are represented by oversized book covers on stage at the Polka: Sleeping Beauty and The Princess and the Pea.
The team behind this show, The PEA and the Princess, engage with the audience and ask us in song whether we are here to enjoy a show (“yes!”) and whether we want to hear about the characters (one child stridently shouted “no!”, but that’s the risk of staging a show for children).
Aimed at the 3-7 year old age bracket, this new twist on the tale boasts some impressive sets (by TK Hay) that fold out of those large books, and a set of songs that may not be memorable, but are delivered with enthusiasm to what proved a very noisy audience at the Sunday morning matinee.
The cast (Elise Zavou (a fearless Princess), Mohamed Manso Bangura (a nerdy Prince), Emily Jane Kerr (an imperious Queen)) put across a story that highlights the lack of female adventurers and an outdated sense of what a princess looks like.
The Prince is scared of the outdoor world, preferring to take refuge in a fantasy world within the pages of his library. The Queen seeks a real Princess using the time-honoured method of placing a pea under the mattress (if she is really of Royal blood she will have the utmost sensitivity and feel even the smallest of irritations).
After all, this worked for generations of her family, who were also happy to make dinner, clean up, and spend time polishing their crowns.
As for this Princess, she is a fighter and perhaps lacking in a social grace or two. She slurps her tea. Her hair is ‘messy’, She wants to read stories she recognises about people like her, but The Prince’s new computer (the PEA of the title) comes up a blank when asked to find tales of female empowerment and escapades.
I liked the idea of subverting traditional expectations that the man should look after the woman, instead seeing them as equals, and also in presenting the Princess as an ordinary mortal. It’s nothing new, but something the target demographic need to hear.
Now, in the 21st century, we don’t have fairytale Royals (if we ever did) and women certainly are not the delicate flowers of years gone by.
It doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy those stories for what they are, but both women’s and civil rights are involved in developing shows like The PEA and the Princess with their educational messages and assurances that there are no ‘gender norms’.
There are traditional elements here like the chatty puppet rabbits (designed and made by Maia Kirkman-Richards) and Holly Mallett’s songs go well with Rachel Barnett-Jones’s book.
Jemma Last’s direction keeps the pace going but there were occasionally moments of inaudibility and poor diction due to the music overpowering the performers.
The PEA computer has fun expressions, while Sherry Coenen’s lighting allows the audience in at key moments and even utilises a glitterball.
I’m giving this 3 stars.
The PEA and the Princess continues at the Polka Theatre until 30 Mar, playing at various times. Check for tickets here.
Image credit: Tasha Best