Liminal Space Theatre bring their version of the novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince, to The Cockpit’s stage. It is adapted by Paul Graves and Angharad Ormond, and directed by Angharad Ormond.
Most effective in its puppet work (the Prince feeling the chill of snow for the first time), anthromorphism (taming a friendly fox) and animation (stars, numbers, butterflies) this version was first presented in 2023.
When an Aviator crashes his biplane in the Sahara Desert, with no water and little hope of survival, he meets The Little Prince, who has travelled from a far-away asteroid so small it houses just one flower.
With original music and full use of The Cockpit’s ample round stage, Liminal’s six-strong cast conjure up the Prince’s journey to Earth via several stops in the solar system.
On the way, meeting a King, a Conceited Man, a Tippler, a Businessman, a Lamplighter, a Geographer, and a group of Roses, the Little Prince observes the folly of grown-ups and learns a few lessons.
The King, for example, has no subjects and no power. The Geographer records nothing because there are no explorers. And the Lamplighter devotes himself to orders that prevent his rest or sleep.
Colourfully lit with props ranging from slithering roots to bicycle lamp eyes, from oversized costumes to clothes racks, The Little Prince has much to say about humanity and friendship.
Even the Flower the Little Prince counts as a friend pouts, stamps, and takes matters for granted. In his request for the Aviator to ‘draw a sheep’, the Prince seeks a real focus in the fantastical story he tells.
This is a pared down version of the book, with some planets missed out. However, the children in the audience were amused by the almost slapstick approach to the Lamplighter, and intrigued by the animations.
I need to mention the costumes designs by Roxanne Ivy Roberts that conveyed who these people were, and the performances of all six cast members (Thisakya Dias, Matt Tylianakis, Flavia Di Saverio, Paul Graves, Cicely Halkes-Wellstead, Simona Hughes, James Johnston and Janet Smith).
The Little Prince runs at The Cockpit until 12 Apr – details here.
4 stars.
Image credit: Robert Piwko