I can still hum the tune of the Danish folk song from the theatre adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales, even though I barely remember the translation.
The song (about a series of different coloured dresses) is used to weave several of Andersen’s stories together in a sweet and engaging production at Pleasance Theatre.
Fairytales can have a dark edge, especially those told by Mr. Andersen, but they’ve chosen less obvious tales (the only one I knew well was the Emperor’s Nightingale) that are fairly light in spirit.
We loved Red Table’s adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories and I’ll give them top marks here too for creative story-spinning and clever use of props.
What’s great is that the four actresses all seem to be having so much fun, sometimes giggling openly at each other’s characterisations.
The performers switch roles fluently, sing beautifully (only a couple of dodgy notes) and kept the audience entertained throughout.
Sprawled out on bean bags at the ‘snuggle pit’ in front, all the little ones were hanging onto every word. After the show the babes had fun meeting the actors and their props.
Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairytales is an intimate and enchanting way to see out the last days of 2011.
Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales is showing at Pleasance Theatre, Carpenter’s Mews, North Rd, N1 (Caledonian Rd tube) at 1.30pm & 3.30pm until Dec 31. Tickets £9
