ED2014 3/5 Reviews ED2014 Musical Reviews

The Happy Prince (English Cabaret in association with C Theatre)

By Laura Gavin | Published on Tuesday 5 August 2014

Back from a successful 2012 run, this charming musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s well-known fable keeps magic firmly at the forefront, with a storyteller-cum-stage wizard (played with a flourish by writer Susan Casson) and her troupe leading the proceedings. Christopher Cubitt is well-cast as the troubled Prince, and Robert Blackmore as the swallow progresses convincingly from flighty to self-sacrificing, though I struggled to hear his voice at times. The strength of the bittersweet morality tale still stands, but as the original work is a short story, the framing device – which is used several times throughout the play can seem a little like padding. Thankfully, this doesn’t stop it being an accomplished and thoroughly warm-hearted piece of theatre.

C South, until 25 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Laura Gavin]