Review: The Prince and the Penguin, Northern Stage

Dec 3 2009 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal

THE afternoon had not started well. An onset of Christmas shopping craziness meant it would have been easier to find a Go Go Hamster in Toys R Us than a parking space within a snowball throw’s distance of Northern Stage.

Then it started to rain... prompting a particularly ungainly mummy run which combined puddle-dodging, umbrella holding, and hip-holding a two-year-old. ‘This better be bloody good’ was the chant I couldn’t get out of my mind’s ear.

Isn’t feel-good children’s theatre a truly magical thing? Within 10 seconds of entering the thoroughly cosified Stage Two, we were warm, smiling and suddenly feeling very Christmassy.

We immediately found ourselves sitting in close proximity to the big blue-sprinkled bedroom of a very bored Prince, who is bored of being bored, was being encouraged to cure his boredom by using his imagination to dream up his own story.

His faithful, but cheeky, maid and a pair of palace entertainers are at a loss – nothing they seem to do is good enough for their young boss.

Step forth the wonder of make believe, together with a penguin, a couple of pirates, a baby polar bear who can bellow with the best of them and some old school roller skates.

The engaging cast, who quickly established a rapport with their young audience; a lovely inspiring story from Susan Mulholland; a clever set, which offered a host of peeping possibilities; and an upbeat soundtrack, written once again by singer/songwriter Beccy Owen brought the snow-dusted jigsaw together beautifully.

Throw in a box of Pic ‘n’ Mix from Marksies (thanks Annie!) and any two-year-old would be pushed to ask for anything more. Come to think of it, a 34-year-old would also struggle to complain.