A review of the ACE! 2014 Production "Puss in Boots" by I Theatre, written for Little Day Out, a Singapore-based website that provides information and updates on the best of Singapore for families with young children.
_resized.jpg) |
| Our little son Z was clearly enthralled by the friendly cast! |
Imagine a French countryside
resplendent in rolling hills, rushing streams and delightful mountains. In the
glorious sunset you can almost catch a glimpse of a magnificent castle which
boasts of wealth beyond measure. Enter a poor miller’s youngest son, a talking
cat in boots and two obnoxious ogres. That sets the stage for the I Theatre
production Puss in Boots.
Producer Brian Seward provides an
interesting twist to the classic French tale Le Maître Chat, or “The Master Cat”, which spins the story of how a cunning cat helps
her master win the heart of a princess through the use of lies and trickery.
Seward’s version is decidedly more positive, and while he acknowledges the role
of the cat in the traditional rags-to-riches transformation of the miller’s
son, he also imbues strong family values of honesty and compassion into the
script.
The titular character Puss, played by Candice de Rozario, apparently
drew inspiration from her two cats Pirate and Spock as character study
references for the role. Singing almost throughout the show, de Rozario gave a
convincing performance as the courageous cat who masterly engineered her
master’s ascension to power. The surprise among the cast was however Jo Tan,
whose performance as Ogre Queen Arugula Funghi, stole the show with her
impeccable French accent and witty lines; not to mention the operatic timbre of
her singing voice.
Puss in Boots dazzles; and not only because of the outlandishly spectacular costumes
designed by Brian Seward. The music and dance choreography was what set this
production above many others. Choreography Cathy Kee, for instance, entertained
with many delightful dance manoeuvres. And music composer Bang Wenfu
experimented successfully with a whole array of musical genres; from the
opening jazz number to a Latino salsa tune, and even a re-make of the popular
“Roar” by Katy Perry. This was exactly what Bang told this reviewer during a
Behind the Scenes interview prior to the screening of the show. He mentioned
that in musical
theatre, it is important for songs to convey thematic coherence, and this was
especially true for Puss in Boots.
The musical is recommended for families;
especially children from 3 to 14. As with all other I Theatre productions,
there is an element of audience participation, which in this case was through
the use of flashcards to teach the audience how to pronounce the words “Marquis
of Carabas”. The play is also very clever in its use of word puns and witty
jokes; for instance, the use of cheesy names such as Gorgonzola, Mozzarella and
Ricotta for the miller’s sons and the ogres’ names Arugula Funghi and Al Funghi
certainly causes one to think about enjoying a crisp salad on a hot summer day.
This reviewer’s older son, who turns 4 in July, was attentive throughout the
show. He wanted to watch the show again immediately after it ended, telling us
that he “liked” the cat.
Puss in Boots is part
of the ACE! Festival 2014, and is running from now to 31 May.
You may refer to the Little Day Out website for more photos from the production.
Comments
Post a Comment