Review: The Pea and the Princess, Polka Theatre

We’re probably all familiar with the classic story of the Princess and the Pea, where a girl calling herself a princess arrives at a castle one night asking to stay. The queen decides to test if she is really what she claims by putting a pea under her mattress, the thinking being that if she is royalty she will be sensitive enough to feel the vegetable through the bedding. But that’s an old, old version of the tale and at Polka Theatre it gets shaken it up, with the princess’s story rewritten for modern times.

In the Pea and the Princess it’s time to get real. Our heroine here is not a cutesy, fragile little flower: she’s a badass, brave, competent and independent person who really does not need some prince looking after her as she is quite capable of making her own adventures happen. Elise Zavou brings fun and energy to the part, really kicking out some ninja moves as she demonstrates what a modern princess can be like.

She’s joined on stage by Mohamed Manso Bangura as a rather dorky prince who is not very brave and prefers to spend his time in the library reading books and programming stories into his PEA computer system. When the system goes rogue he and the princess learn to work together as equals to save the day, with the support of his mother the queen, played with polish by Emily Jane Kerr.

The story is told through a bouncy selection of musical numbers from Holly Mallett, punctuated with some fun moments that get the whole audience involved calling out. A couple of cheeky squirrels add humour to the proceedings, and the best laughs of all come when Bangura represents some conventional princess tropes by dressing up as them: his Snow White in particular drew howls of laughter from the young crowd.

TK Hay’s set and costume design is delightful, with massive books onstage converting to locations such as the library and a richly decorated bedroom with the traditional stack of mattresses. Sherry Coenen’s careful lighting design works well to define night time scenes and at moments it smoothly brings the whole audience into the action.

There are certainly hints of Princess Smartypants and Matilda to the theme, but it’s a modern outlook that stands up well and provides great opportunities to discuss female empowerment and preconceptions about what gender roles should be. The message that we are all able to write our own story is supportive and encouraging as ever and provides a hap-PEA ending to a colourful and energetic production.

Written by: Rachel Barnett-Jones
Directed by: Jemma Last
Composed & Lyrics by: Holly Mallett
Set and Costume Design by: TK Hay
Lighting Design by: Sherry Coenen
Sound Design by: Yvonne Gilbert
Puppet Design & Made by: Maia Kirkman-Richards
Animated by: Conor McMullin
Musical Direction and Vocal Coach by: Lauren Dyer
A Polka Theatre production in collaboration with Singapore Repertory Theatre

The Pea and the Princess plays at Polka Theatre until Sunday 30 March.