This show is an absolute smasher. It’s clever, it’s funny, it had the children in the audience entirely engaged and calling out responses. This is a Snow White for now. Her seven new companions are Earth Burghers, green, organic, recyclers – into every equality and ism. And happy to gently send themselves up.
When the wicked Queen tricks her way into their home – one of them says: “Perhaps we should get a door.” Snow White, played by Megan Vaughan-Thomas, is a very relatable young girl with a lovely singing voice and too kind a heart not to let in our scammer Queen.
Snow White by New International Encounter in a collaboration with Cambridge Junction is a play-for-today. The traditional story is told with a modern twist.
Stefanie Mueller as The Wicked Queen (who also designed the set and costumes) is wicked in so ways it’s a joy to see. She is extremely funny and had my heart (when really she wanted Snow White’s).
By the end, when she is sobbing her heart out as the other characters forgive her, (well they would, wouldn’t they?) She brought me to tears.
We all make mistakes don’t we? We might not have actually tried to murder our stepdaughter but it’s all relative. And relatives can be so very trying.
The cast of six are all fine actors, singers and musicians. Among them they play mandolin, guitar, double bass, percussion, clarinet, washboard and flute.
They open the show with a lively overture – and provide jolly music as we go along, – while acting all the characters and imperceptibly changing the set.
Most of all, they all have great comic timing. It’s miles of smiles and laughter to the rafters.
It’s all VERY clever. For a start, you might wonder how six people are going to play ten characters. Trust me, they do.
Fortunately, as we know, the good-natured Jacob the Junior Gardener (formerly known as the Huntsman) played by Abayomi Oniyide does not actually carry out The Queen’s orders to kill the girl. He leaves her in the forest.
Good natured Jacob becomes good-natured Robin, one of the Seven Earth Burghers. The others in the “Seven” are Caleb, played with great comic timing by Joey Hickman, who also composed the music.
Burgher Lesley is played by the very accomplished Samantha Sutherland and Alex Murdoch is Cariad – who narrates a lot of the story with great aplomb and humour. Cariad carries a lot of the comedy of the show.
Directed by Alex Byrne, this is a funny and heart-warming show. I loved every minute of it.
The show is 75 minutes with no interval. Runs until December 24. Tickets from 01223 511511 https://www.junction.co.uk/
