On Saturday the family and I headed off to the Pleasance Theatre in Islington to see their musical adaption of Red Riding Hood, a show runing until 3rd January 2016. We found it to be superbly fun for the whole family and a really brilliant take on the old fairytale that we know and love!
The tale of Little Red Riding Hood has some added on for character moments and the short, well known story of how Little Red goes to visit her Grandmother before the whole ‘What big eyes you have Grandmother’ fiasco is puffed out with aplomb!
I loved how the writers Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary have turned this short story into a full blown musical with songs to tap your toes to and a story that really does have you on the edge of your seat. I was very intrigued to find out how the story would come together at the end and tie in the loose ends of why Little Red’s father goes missing, how they get their cake shop back up and running (told you it had a bit of puffing out) and what would become of the terribly camp and ever so funny (but scary) wolf! I wasn’t disappointed at all, in fact, it’s really rather clever!
The songs were performed brilliantly by the cast and with dancing that was super slick it took the show, which had a touch of pantomime about it, to a level of smewhere between panto and west end and I loved it. Truly.
They didn’t shy away from the poor old Grandmother being eaten and the children lapped up on all the gory details of how they pulled poor Grandma back out from the wolf’s tummy. Jimmy was absolutely in his element booing and hissing and ‘urrrrghing’ as out she popped and even though the wolf had made him hide his eyes in my jumper a couple of times he had the most fantastic time.
For Florence she just wanted to join in with the singing and dancing as we felt so close to the stage (the theatre is very intimate) that she simply wanted to be in it which is something, right at the very end, she got to be when we were all taught one of the dances by the cast!
Little Red leaves the cake shop in search of advice from Grandma only to be swayed off the path by the ‘big bad wolf’. Her Daddy has gone mising and her Mum’s business is in danger but she thinks Grandma will know what to do. Lost and alone she meets William the Woodcutter who is very forgetful but helps her find her way to Grandma’s house. He’s very forgetful, did I mention that? So there’s some fun along the way that had the children roaring with laughter at. Proper belly laughing at William’s antics and while the wolf, played by Matthew Barrow beautifully, had Jonny and I chuckling away at his performance, the show was enjoyed by us all!
As ever, the story does come good in the end but we had some hairy moments along the way without shying away from any of the grim details! I think in one song the wolf sang about skinning Grandma like a mouse! Eye popping but very funny and he did it SO brilliantly!
A fab cast, a fun production, perfect for some festive fun without all the trappings of a full blown ‘he’s behind you’ panto but with an element of eye winking fun perhaps not seen in other children’s theatre. Go. Make sure you do!
Words to the wise for your visit: Don’t take a buggy as there are LOTS of steps up to the theatre and try to get the tube to Caledonaian Road as it’s only a short walk away. I had rung the theatre before our visit to ask about parking but they had NO idea about how much it was, what hours permits in the area were enforced and even had no clue about the metered road that the theatre is on. When I got there, just outside the theatre and where a more helpful staff member might have had a quick look for me, I could see the meters cost nearly four pounds an hour with only 2 hours before you HAVE to leave so do try and get public transport if you can! The show is well worth seeing but the theatre staff and access could be better in my opinion!
We were asked to see the show as guests in return for an honest review.
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