It’s difficult to describe this Tim Bray Production of these popular fairy tales without unleashing a flight of over-used adjectives:  The production was "magical" and "delightful", the Ugly Duckling was utterly "charming" and the Emperor was a lot of "pompous" fun.  But actually such adjectives are indispensable, because the production was magical and delighted its audience of all ages.  Especially the many youthful members of the audience at the Pumphouse Theatre in Takapuna, for whom it was the first time hearing the tale of the little ugly duckling or the story of a vain emperor who is tricked into revealing his foolishness…

Tim Bray’s adaptations of these stories were written in 2005 for the 200th anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen’s birth, and remain in the spirit of the original tales.  The five actors give lively interpretations of their characters, but the period costumes lend a sense of traditional narrative and the bold lighting provides colour and depth to the stage where there are few props and a simple backdrop.  Tim Bray is an experienced playwright, especially for children’s theatre, and the momentum of both stories carries the audience from slapstick to song (composed by Christine White) and doesn’t miss a single beat.

The Ugly Duckling (played and sung in a wonderfully gangly/graceful manner by Li-Ming Hu) is the first half of the performance and more suited to the little ones aged from three to five years old.  My daughter (four years) told me without hesitation that this was her favourite.  It was harder for me to choose my favourite part because there were heaps of laughs for the adults; I loved the fluffy yellow ducklings, Dane Dawson and Lori Dungey, whose perfect peeping and cheeping made me think that Dawson especially must have engaged in some serious method acting to prepare for the role…

Lori Dungey is great with her superb facial expressions as the swindling Dr Diddle in The Emperor’s New Clothes, just as Sam Berkley gives an excellently aristocratic and idiotic Emperor who shrieks, giggles and brims with extravagant frivolity.  Indeed, one of the highlights of the production is the scene in The Emperors New Clothes when all five cast members are on stage singing "Lots of Money".  Dane Dawson (who has an excellent voice) and Li-Ming Hu play guitars and sing on the one side, while on the other Dr Diddle and Mr Swizz (played by Donogh Rees, also wonderful as Mother Duck) make the Emperor’s ‘new clothes’ while gloating in song over how much money they’ve managed to defraud.  Meanwhile, the Emperor himself appears from the wings and sashays in a series of hilarious poses across the background every time his name is mentioned…

The Ugly Duckling captures a sweet note of the special love between families and the need to belong, while The Emperor’s New Clothes sparkles with fun and reminds us to be ourselves.  With such a combination of sensitivity, good laughs and an experienced and committed cast, you can’t really go wrong with this kind of family theatre experience these school holidays -I’m still smiling!
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