Arthur Review – A Modern Girl’s Quest Leads to a Good Knight for All Ages | Children’s theater

HHere’s a sparkling new presentation of the King Arthur legend for the ages – and all ages – from the Bucket Club theater company. Our story begins with little Grace waiting in the emergency department, while her nose is stuck by Lego and her brother is injured after a fight. When Merlin shows up at the hospital, weaving a mysterious adventure story, Grace is drawn into an epic quest filled with enchanted forests and sparkling underwater worlds. In the closing scenes, when Arthur finally pulls that famous sword from the stone, loud shouts run through the enchanted young audience. charm.

The contemporary story by Marita Kirkbride contains plenty of clever jokes for parents to enjoy and a well-represented helping hand from Gawain the Green Knight. There are subtle nods to today’s political climate, with sixth-century England without a king and struggling to find a leader with any kind of vision. But the kids always come first, and the storytelling is fast, bold and always full of heart.

The five-strong cast performs admirably but never makes it seem overdone, allowing some sweet and poignant moments to stand out amidst the silliness. Gurjot Dhaliwal’s Grace is gritty and gritty and is wonderfully complemented by the no-nonsense Arthur played by Giles Carradine; Rose Wardlaw’s Merlin always feels like a real, fallible person despite all the magical flourishes; Megan Vaughan Thomas and Adam Mirsky are two inspiring comedians and their riders – galloping across the stage atop two very silly horses – are a joy to watch.

Harry Blake’s lively songs add energy to the events, and Rebecca Jane Wood’s innovative set keeps things simple yet stunning. Bright costumes flood the stage with colour, and there are some stunning puppets full of personality. It’s all tied together by Neil Crouch’s light direction, which allows freedom of expression and a sense of fun in her company but still keeps things tight and clear. There’s also time for an animated ending, as Grace happily returns home to her brother and the two race around their living room, making costumes out of everything they have – the legend of King Arthur spreading through another generation.