Grimm Tales

Grimm Tales
Adapted by Carol Ann Duffy, dramatised by Tim Supple. Queensland Theatre Company. November 8 – December 11, 2010

This is the most joy-filled, exuberant show I have seen all year.

Folk tale characters greet you warmly as you enter the theatre; one glance at the set transports you to fantasy land.

Director Michael Futcher and his merry band of players: Liz Buchanan, Dan Crestani, Eugene Gilfedder, Emma Pursey, Lucas Stibbard, Scott Witt, and Melanie Zanetti breathe life into eight of Grimms’ tales in their nineteenth century versions.

The Grimm brothers collected and published folk stories from all over Europe, most of which had been handed down for centuries by wandering storytellers. As played here they are ribald, robust, gruesome, and irreverent.  

Musicians Sallie Campbell, Noah Cunningham and Phil Slade, with their miscellany of minstrel instruments, are integral to the entertainment. Always there, performing lustily to cover transitions from story to story or providing atmosphere to back the action, they even become physically involved at times. They let the actors play their percussion instruments in some stories, or join the band as players in others.

Greg Clarke’s set design is ingenious and adaptable – it looks like kids just knocked it up in the backyard but in fact is deceptively stout and versatile. David Walters’ magical lighting transforms it into palaces, the deep forest, rustic villages, mediaeval market places, gothic hovels.

It’s obvious the entire cast and crew had fun with Grimm Tales in rehearsal. What an enchanting way to celebrate the end of the season.

Jay McKee

Photos (from top): The Hedgehog and The Hare: L-R Scott Witt as The Hedgehog and Dan Crestani as The Hare.

Little Red Cap: Eugene Gilfedder as The Wolf and Liz Buchanan as Little Red Cap

The Golden Goose: Lucas Stibbard

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