Review: The Firebird, Lace Market Theatre

A well-meaning but hapless young prince is banished from home and kingdom by his father the Tsar for being an incompetent blunderer. In fact he’s extremely accomplished, but a scheming sister has engineered his fall from favour out of jealousy. He goes off in search of the Firebird and, as it turns out, the rescue of a beautiful princess as well. After many tribulations all ends happily.

If you‘re wanting a change from pantomime this year the latest from the Lace Market Theatre might well suit. The Firebird is adapted from a fairy tale, elements of which are apparently found in various European national traditions and as far to the east as Iran. The play’s set in Russia but there’s a strong Middle Eastern feel to it. It has all the narrative thrust of a good panto, and more, but it keeps to the story and avoids all those tangents and topical and local references you get in pantomime.

Director Jane Herring has assembled an excellent cast. Prince Ivan is well played, and sung as well, by Martin Pikett, and the lovely Princess Vasilisa is Francesca Lawson. The Firebird herself, in a wonderful crimson costume – all the costumes are excellent – is played and danced with skill by Hannah Lily.

Princess Katya, the horrid one, is done by the increasingly versatile Michelle Smith; and her father, Tsar Saltan, by Richard Fife. Baba Yaga, the cannibal queen, is Lorna McCullough, and the remarkably soft, but kindly, Wolf is Damian Frendo, who gets better all the time. Amanda Hodgson, as well as playing Vanka, is a black bird of some kind. She captures the latter especially well, using her eyes and neck just the way birds appear to do.

The brilliant music, composed by Piotr Wisniewski which is an integral part of the evening, is mostly a matter of simplicity and light. It’s a simple but splendidly dressed multi-locational set from Max Bromley. Lighting (Martin Curtis) is important since it’s used to pick out the appropriate part of the stage for each scene. The whole thing is visually very pleasing.

The Firebird is billed as being suitable for all ages from five upwards. Actually your average five-year-old might find Baba Yaga, the cannibal Witch, initially a bit too frightening for enjoyment; otherwise it is indeed wholesome entertainment for all the family. It ends happily, with reconciliation and with song and dance in the snow.

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THE FIREBIRD: Lace Market Theatre, Nottingham

THE Firebird, by Neil Duffield, is not so much a pantomime as a classic fairy story in the style of Hans Christian Anderson and the Brothers Grimm. Although there are moments throughout the play where typical pantomime audience interaction is required, the play itself is a magical story - a true family Christmas experience.

The play is a fantastical tale set in Russia, of handsome Prince Ivan (Martin Pikett) shunned by his father, the Tsar (Richard Fife) because of his sister's evil deceitfulness (Michelle Smith). The bird has been stealing golden apples from his father's tree! After catching The Firebird, (Hannah Lily) but then releasing it, after the Firebird gave up one of it's feathers in return for it's freedom, the young prince is eventually banished from the Tsar's Kingdom.

The prince roams the woods looking for the magical Firebird - the only way he can regain his father's love and respect. On his travels he meets an evil sorcerer (Richard Fife), a friendly wolf (Damian Frendo), a cannibal witch (Lorna McCullough) and the beautiful Princess Vasilisa (Francesca Lawson).

The show is interwoven with marvellous songs and incidental music. composed by Piotr Wisniewski, which give the play a real atmosphere and are a delight to young and old. The Firebird has all the elements of a traditional Christmas show for all the family - laughter, romance, baddies and goodies, friendship, jealousy, some audience participation and last, but definitely not least, a happy ending.

The whole cast throw themselves into the play with great gusto, great lighting effects and a well utilised stage make for a very enjoyable piece of Christmas fare.

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