Photo by Richard CampbellAn original twist on the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale. Christmas at the Citizens brings inventive storytelling accompanied by original live music in an intimate theatre where everyone can feel part of the story. Read more …
Hansel and Gretel are like any brother and sister. Cheeky and mischievous, they squabble with each other all day and live a happy life with their mother and father in the forest.
But their world is turned upside down when a dreadful famine strikes the land and an envious, twisted old witch plots to have their father all to herself. Abandoned in the forest, Hansel and Gretel must stop their quarrelling and work together to defeat the wicked witch - and avoid being cooked for dinner!
Join Hansel and Gretel in a magical family show full of fun and suspense and beautiful songs. A new version by Alan McHugh.
A Christmas show that is entertaining and thoughtful and an excellent example of The Citizens’ commitment to growing audiences.
Nothing in this inventively staged and persuasively acted music- theatre piece dumbs down the awfulness of feeling unloved and unwanted. Which means that when everyone is safe and reunited, the happy ending is no cliché, but a loving hug that embraces us all.
Claire McKenzie’s score, played live music by a four-strong ensemble, do a lot to keep things cracking along and youngsters raised on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s TV shows lap it up. But it left me pining for the old days.
The show works best when focusing on these two bickering children, and the two actors generate much sympathy. Even at the end, however, Hansel and Gretel survive thanks not to their own resourcefulness but to their father's last-minute intervention. That is symptomatic of a play that is too concerned with the grownups.
Alan McHugh's lovely, crisp script, Neil Haynes's classy sets (especially the brilliant witch's kitchen, complete with dangling skeleton), and some top-notch performances ensure that the Gorbals playhouse has another hit Christmas show.
Guy Hollands proves, once again, that he has a real talent for capturing the enchanting essence of great fairytales.
Whilst it might not be as much fun as some of the other shows in town, its clean script, sensitive cast and fresh design make for a tasty evening nonetheless.
At heart, though, this is adult stuff for robust adult people; a walk in the dark forest of fairytale villainy that cuts very near the knuckle of deep inequality between men and women, and leaves every female over 40 who is not neatly attached to a family wailing like an evil banshee in the dark.
With a powerful, folk-inspired score, courtesy of Claire McKenzie, and Neil Haynes’ cosy and colourful set, this Hansel and Gretel is the perfect alternative to panto-land.
Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow from Saturday December 3, 2011, until Saturday January 7, 2012. More info: www.citz.co.uk
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