Disney’s Mulan Jnr

Stirling Players’ Disney’s Mulan Jnr is a delightful and fun production. A visual treat than oozes charm, it features a very likeable team of 10 to 14 year-olds

Tiana Aitken is a wonderful find in the title role, delivering a very centred performance in her theatrical debut. Ella Simpson is dynamite as little, dragon side-kick Mushu, stealing scenes and singing beautifully. Sebastian Cruse is charming as commanding officer and love-interest-of-sorts Captain Shang, sporting a very new tenor voice.

Mulan’s Ancestors played a key role in the movie, but are even more important in this musical version, as they also narrate, and become a (Chinese) Greek chorus, commenting and at times arguing over the action. Impressive performances from Neve Havercroft (Lin), Ella Hagon (Yun), and Macy Waldram (Hong), with solid first community theatre performances from Isobell Green (Laozi) and Jasmine Ansell (Zhang).

Mulan’s family are a believable unit (age aside), with solid acting from Charlie Martin as father Fa Zhou, and strong support from Kate McKracken and Sophie Flanigan as Mulan’s mother and grandmother.

As Mulan joins the Chinese army, she meets a trio of soldiers who become firm friends. Lovely comic performances from Leo Rimmer (Ling), Jai Tarr (Yao) and Cameron Clear (Quian-Po).

Cameron Taylor brings quiet power to The Emperor, Edward Last is a worthy adversary as leader of the Huns, Shan Yu, while Jacob Miles had energy and presence as the self-motivated Chi Fu..

Enthusiasm and focus shone in the more than a dozen actors in smaller roles and ensemble, who beautifully created the villagers, brides and mothers, and warring armies. The cast were expertly costumed by Fran Gordon, Carol Hughes and Lyn Hutcheon, and they executed Celeste Underhill’s simple but very effective choreography with precision. Singing, under Musical Director Elizabeth Pemberton, was tuneful and well-performed.

John Woolrych’s lighting design gave an attractive story-book feel and the set had a beautiful sense of feng shui.

Mulan Jnr is a feel-good show with appeal for all ages. Short and sweet, it is a great show for young families. Well done to a production that show-cases a bundle of emerging talent.

Kimberley Shaw