GRUESOME FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

By Rachael Rosewell - Friday, April 11, 2008

Michael Cox (Josef) and Elisa de Grey (Marlene) in The Juniper Tree at Quay Arts.

STAGE REVIEW
A GRUESOME tale of greed, deceit and murder came to Quay Arts on Saturday when the Goat and Monkey theatre company staged a thrilling dark fairytale, The Juniper Tree.
The cast created a magical yet sinister world with the help of a simple yet atmospheric set, clever lighting and sound effects.
The Quay’s somewhat uncomfortable staged seating had been removed and chairs for adults ranged opposite each other, with children on the floor, nice and close to the action.
The four excellent actors took on a variety of roles during the show, which started with a group of woodcutters preparing to cut down an ancient forest at the behest of an evil, grasping stepmother.
The star was undoubtedly Ian Summers as the stepmother, entirely convincing as a sexy, manipulative psychopath in a creation of comic genius. His compelling stage presence extended to the Quay cafe during the interval as he chided young members of the audience in honeyed tones before returning to the stage to cut the head off the stepson and serve it cooked on a platter to his short-sighted father.
The blood fest continued when the stepmother’s hand was severed during a fight as she tried to cut down the fabled Juniper Tree with an axe.
All gruesome stuff and huge fun for the younger members of the audience, some of whom had to return quaking to their parents’ sides during darker moments of the play.
It was an original and highly enjoyable presentation and well deserving of all the praiseworthy comments from audience members as they left.

GRUESOME FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

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