Written by Lewis Hetherington
Directed by Rosalind Sydney
Set and Costume Design by Claire Halleran
Review by Annie Aslett
This Christmas, Glasgow Kelvin College presents a great, affordable choice with their panto-lite production of Rumpelstiltskin, written by Lewis Hetherington. While not heavy on the high-camp hilarity of a proper panto, this charming show excels at storytelling; Hetherington’s script is well-paced, ensuring the young crowd is enthralled from start to finish. Glasgow Kelvin College states that this show is for anyone over 5, and the tone definitely skews young; 10 is probably the upper limit for kids getting a kick out of these fairytale shenanigans.
Traditionally portrayed as a wily trickster, Hetherington’s Rumpelstiltskin (Matthew Guest) is misunderstood and lonely after his best and only friend, Bunnyflops (Scarlett Mack), abandons him at school in favour of the popularity offered by handsome jock Duncan McWoof (Adam Buksh). Guest’s Rumpelstiltskin is like a family-friendly Jim Carrey; his elastic physicality and comic timing make the hour-and-a-bit runtime fly by, enthralling everyone in the room.
The tale hits all the classic points, from king-mandated hay-spinning to Bunnyflops’ failure to remember our hero’s name. However, in a break from tradition, Rumpelstiltskin is firmly the Good Guy of this production, only wanting what’s best for his treacherous former friend. While McWoof is written as the villain and is played as such with high drama by Buksh, Hetherington’s telling places the blame firmly on Bunnyflops. In reworking Rumpelstiltskin’s story, the script could have avoided subtly villainizing the female character; though Mack’s performance makes Bunnyflops lovable, giving her more agency would have been a more empowering choice. Nonetheless, the message of the show is now one of inclusivity and the importance of looking out for everyone on the playground, regardless of difference; this can only be a positive for this young crowd.
Claire Halleran’s set design is magical and impressive for a lower-budget production, and the committed turns from Guest, Mack and Buksh amp up the energy in the room, making for a fantastically Christmassy evening out. With tickets for those in the local area starting at just £6, you can’t go wrong with this twist on a beloved classic.
Review by Annie Aslett – contact@corrblimey.uk
Annie is a not-so-recent graduate of the University of Edinburgh with a degree in French and Spanish, along with a Masters in Translation from the University of Glasgow. A Spanish teacher for three years, she decided to leave the classroom behind to pursue personal goals and has since been regularly reviewing for Corr Blimey’s Glaswegian wing. Annie is a life-long lover of musical theatre, whose childhood performances included a rousing production of Snow White in The Hall and a heartfelt rendition of Go, Go, Go Joseph in The Living Room.
