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The Revel Pucks add some circus flair and a modern twist to this well-known fairy tale.Summary
Rating
Good
The most striking thing about the Revel Puck Circus is its spiegeltent – a wood-and-canvas construction that looks from the outside fairly mundane, but is decorated inside with mirrors and stained glass that give the place a nostalgic feel of childhood circuses gone by. For the young audience, it’s certainly an engrossing sight, paired with jaunty renditions of popular songs and the familiar smell of fresh popcorn.
The story of the ugly duckling is familiar to most, but this production adds a nice twist to the tale. Rather than find out that she’s a swan, Lou, the duckling in question, meets other animals on her journey, with whom she finds an affinity. The cat and the tortoise who accompany her think that they might be swans, because they don’t fit in with their species either, but this fantasy is quickly dismissed once they meet a real swan. Lou, on the other hand, could feasibly be a swan, but she opts to leave with her new friends rather than try and live in the swans’ pond.
From the start, Lou is quick to question why she has to be called ‘ugly’. It doesn’t seem very fair to her, and she suggests a few alternatives: the “beautiful in her own way contrary to society’s standards” duckling, perhaps? Not as catchy, but a bit less mean.
Circus performances interspersed throughout the production are all well-performed by clearly skilled performers, although the standout has to be by the cat. His piece in the Cyr wheel, (a giant metal hoop that the artist twists and spins from within), and with a giant balloon that he manoeuvres by turns over his head, torso and entire body, are excellent. Not only athletic feats, these segments are comic and have their own little narratives.
There are a few tongue-in-cheek gags about the locale. The story takes place in a mystical place called the Walthamstow Wetlands, where flat whites cost £4.50 and even the cats are vegan. The script balances jokes for the adults in the audience with physical comedy for the kids, ensuring that guardians feeling the stress of school holidays get a moment to laugh too. It is when the show leans too much into the child-oriented humour that it sometimes falls flat; a few of these bits drag on too long, and come across as slightly desperate to appeal to the target audience. It’s odd, as so much of the show is perfectly pitched for a younger crowd.
The music choices are also a little odd, and seem out of alignment with the 2+ age group. ‘I Like To Move It Move It’ and ‘500 Miles’, followed by ‘5 Years Time’ by Noah and the Whale, aren’t perhaps natural picks for the 2024 toddler set, and jar slightly within the story.
By the end of the piece, the hammyness of the acting-for-children style has worn thin and there’s a restless feeling in the spiegeltent that’s unique to large groups of small children who want to run around. However, with a cast of just four, this is an impressively energetic and heartfelt piece. Real thought has gone into how to transmit a meaningful message, tell a fun story and balance the demands of both children and their parents.
For the festive season, this is an alternative to the usual pantomime. With a runtime of just an hour and a relaxed environment, it’s also great for smaller audience members who may be overwhelmed by a full-length show and full-scale theatre.
Directed by: Luke Hallgarten
Produced by: Nix Pretlove
Assistant Director: Fiona Thornhill
The Ugly Duckling runs at the Revel Puck Circus until 5 January 2025. Further information and bookings can be found here.
