THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND Reviews...
I never read reviews...I just post them on my blog!
Well it's been a crazy week of sold-out shows for THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND down at the Palmerston Library Theatre! I wish the theatre were bigger, 'cuz I hate it when we have to turn away parents with kids!
Check out our nifty reviews! Congrats to the cast and musicians and crew!
From NOW Magazine's "Best and Worst of the Fringe" issue July 13 -19 page 75:
Rated: NNNN [Ed: Yeah! We rock!]
Adapted from a Beatrix Potter tale, this bright and entertaining kids' musical follows the adventures of an innocent pig sent to market. Marc Richard's sharp direction enlivens the production, as do the talents of a group of committed young performers, including Daniel Greenberg in the title role. You have to love a show that opens and closes with a chorus about stinky pigs, features a chorus line of cleaver waving butchers and gives the three piece orchestra porcine snouts.
From EYE WEEKLY Best of The Fringe edidition July 13, 2006 page 44:
Rated: *** [Ed: Hmmm...]
Daniel Greenberg is fabulous as the very personable Pigling Bland in this solid musical adaptation of the Beatrix Potter classic...the piggy behaviour is well-rendered and the portrayals of (and costumes for) the other animals are brilliant. Farmer Piperson...is not overly scary for young children. Well-sung, and with live instrumentation from the side of the stage, the production's music contributes well to the tale.
Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment
(that would be Pigling Bland and Joy)
Not one to be swayed by reviews, I went to see Pigling Bland for myself.
What a joy! (hence the PB&J reference earlier)
The cast was uniformly fantastic, but I especially enjoyed the portrayl of Alex (Rachel Brittain), PB (Daniel Greenberg) and the Constable(Andrew Chandler). In order we had energy, ennui, and a little bit of Monty Python's Graham Chapman (but not too much!)
The orchestra was perfect with accordian, clarinet and tuba (or was that a Euphonium?) and whole thing put me in mind of Sweeney Todd, especially the "Smell the Bacon" number in which Cat and Dog (new additions to the B.Potter tale) explain to PB what is in store for a pig like him - repleat with diagrams and dancing butchers!
That same number - while visually wonderful, is particularly note worthy for Suzy's puns. To wit:
"If you're feeling tired and sickly, well that need not be endured, come with us to the smoke house - after a while you'll be cured!"
AND
"gotta go get me a bib; little pigs make me hungry - brother can you spare a rib"
AND (possibly my favourite)
"I crave gourmet cooking; gives you those Cordon Blues - when they serve pickled pigs feet, don't wanta be in your shoes"
The music itself had energy and variety, the music direction did it great justice and the expressive voices brought the whole thing home.
The show is tight, energetic, entertaining, witty, easily comprehended, apprehended and glad-hended* by all ages.
I can't wait for the next incarnation!
*glad-hended - from middle english (see: Chaucer) for "easily applauded" and deserving of great praise**
** if you're buying this, have I got a Holy Grail to sell you, Dan Brown!