Be prepared for glitter in this traditional tale that comes with a shedload of razzle-dazzle.Rating
Good!
The Unicorn Theatre‘s Three Little Pigs takes a traditional fairy tale and slathers it in a whole load of razzle-dazzle. With West End musical maestros George Stiles and Andrew Drewe in charge, this show for ages 3-7 years is a shiny, upbeat song and dance special.
A big, bright set design by Emma Bailey sees a literal fried egg sun in the sky to match the bacon, as it shines over the pigsty where the pig family live. Space is becoming tight, and it’s time for the piglets to move out. Their dad was eaten by a Big Bad Wolf, so Mum warns them to take care out in the big world… Good advice indeed, and we know what’s to come!
This is a bold, upbeat production full of bright colours and jolly tunes, and it feels a bit like a West End musical panto. There are joyfully energetic performances from the whole cast who sing, tap, and box step their way through the familiar tale. Iona Crampton, Sam Mellows, and Joe Thompson-Oubari, as the squabbling siblings, really bring home the bacon, delivering high energy and tight choreography (Sarita Piotrowski) to the show and, along with Paula James as their Mum, have terrific voices that harmonise beautifully.
Jack Wilkinson, as the Wolf, bears a striking resemblance to Matilda‘s Mr Wormwood and delights the young audience with his worm-eating, farty vulgarity. It’s a great character performance from him, particularly in the audience interaction when Wolfie starts measuring up children for his dinner.
Bailey’s set and costumes are theatrical and well put together, with a really modern feel. Multiple, flexible set changes keep the scenes active to match the buzzing performances and vibrant music.
The story itself is largely familiar but awkward in places. An environmental message feels levered in, and there’s a laboured explanation justifying how the wolf dies as ‘survival of the fittest’, but this is somewhat confusing when moments later he climbs out of the pot to take a bow. The idea of the Dad being eaten is repeated a couple of times and seems a bit triggering. Clearly, it’s fine to talk about death, but the tensions just aren’t right here. The show is certainly amusing at times, although it has to be said that the biggest laughs come from fart noises, which is a choice.
The Three Little Pigs is a colourful, bedazzling show with a big budget, bouncy songs and a talented cast. Beneath that, it’s a straightforward, familiar tale that isn’t particularly reinvented, but children will recognise. As a first theatre experience – which it may well be for this age group – it’s entertaining and not too taxing.
Music by George Stiles
Book & Lyrics by Anthony Drewe
Director: Jade Lewis
Designer: Emma Bailey
Musical Director Samuel Wilson
Choreographer: Sarita Piotrowski
Sound Designer: Yvonne Gilbert
Lighting Designer: Ali Hunter
The Three Little Pigs, aimed at 3-7 year olds, runs at the Unicorn Theatre until Sunday 2 November
