Full House Theatre’s adaptation of Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilvie’s The Worst Princess is a mostly musical affair that largely succeeds in bringing the anarchic spirit of the book to the stage. The story of Princess Sue’s rejection of traditional princess tropes is told with a poppy, upbeat soundtrack, full of repeated refrains that worked well for the target audience aged 3+.
The production was clearly professional and of good quality. The use of puppets was a particularly inspired choice, adding another layer of visual interest and variety to the spectacle. The dragon, in particular, was cleverly realised, assembled piece by piece from different parts held aloft and manipulated by the ensemble cast.
In terms of acting and singing, the cast were uniformly competent and engaging. I particularly enjoyed Lawrence Harp’s portrayal of the posh and pompous prince, and special mention must go to Kieron Michael, whom my eyes couldn't help following round the stage (guess I can't resist a burly man in a dress).
There were a couple of moments when the production leaned a little heavily on cheap laughs; a couple of instances of burping, farting and bum jokes felt a tad forced. However, they did elicit shrills of laughter from the target audience, and perhaps I should just acknowledge that I am not really the target audience.
If there was one area where the production could have been improved, it was in the movement. At times, the cast seemed a little static, and the stage felt underpopulated. More energetic choreography, more running, jumping, and expansive gestures would have added to the sense of excitement and dynamism. This was particularly noticeable in the scene where the dragon blows down the castle, which felt a little flat and lacking in dramatic energy.
That said, ultimately, the success of a children’s show is best measured by the reaction of its young audience. My three-year-old sat rapt for the entire hour-long performance, only beginning to fidget a little towards the very end.
I’ll close with her words: “I liked the music, and I liked the dragon and I liked the princess”. I think that about sums it up.