By: Cathryn Macey, TRP Reviewer
Think you know the story of The Three Little Pigs? Think again.
Stuff and Nonsense have taken the original plot of this classic bedtime story and made it their own. Featuring mad cap humour, physical theatre, and impressive puppetry, it’s got to be one of the most inventive pieces of children’s theatre you’re ever likely to see.
A perfect introduction to the magic of theatre, Director Niki McCretton’s quirky show starts with a cosy reading from the show’s frontman, Dustin Huffman. Played by Donald Craigie, Dustin reminds me of Hugh Grant’s character in Paddington Bear 2. Yes, on the surface of things he’s charming and eloquent but underneath his warm, handsome façade lurks a villain capable of harming our three porky heroes, Minty, Spoon and Swampy.
Will they realise their story teller’s cruel intentions or will they fall victim to his wolfish charms? Either way, the audience are in for one heck of a ride as these naughty piggies dance, sing and generally cause havoc in The Drum.
The versatility of the show’s two human stars is impressive. Jenny Harrold plays Swampy but she is also an extraordinary puppeteer. Both Craigie and Harrold bring Minty and Spoon to life through what can only be described as puppetry wizardry; they make the little pigs look as though they are self-sufficient performers! As much as is humanly possible, they manipulate the porky duo without so much as a sleeve in sight meaning that some of today’s young crowd probably believe that they’re independent pigs able to stand on their own trotters.
Such seamless and creative puppetry is a highlight of the performance. It’s all made possible through Holly Miller’s imaginative set and use of props. Large parts of the set come on wheels meaning it can be easily moved to suit the fast-paced needs of each scene. Raised platforms hide a series of well-designed flaps in which Craigie and Harrold place their hands in to invisibly engineer Spoon and Minty. It’s a masterclass in innovative set design and yet another component of the show that makes it so very engaging for a young audience.
The script is equally creative and keeps audience members of all ages amused throughout. I took the entire family and it’s the kind of show where the adults laugh just as much as the children! Interestingly, the script was written by Anna Murphy and a group of local Year 6 school children from Plymouth.
Co – writing with witty children pays off! We meet the pigs’ mum, for example. Turns out Mrs Pig is only too happy to have lost her piglets; she can finally have a hot bath in peace. And we’re also privy to the wolf’s sad back story. He’s been living in captivity for years and so he’s not had a birthday cake for a very long time. This may explain why he is so keen to blow things down! Maybe even villains deserve a chance after all?
Featuring lively music throughout, this is a fresh, fun take on a classic story and is guaranteed to keep kids of all ages entertained. Trot down to TRP to catch this wonderful new show while you can….