For parents who need kids entertained

INTERACTIVE: Flame fairies Sinazo Ngcengula and Kelsey Bigara in the Princess and the Frog.

INTERACTIVE: Flame fairies Sinazo Ngcengula and Kelsey Bigara in the Princess and the Frog.

Published Dec 9, 2014

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THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

DIRECTOR: Sandy Bigara

CAST: Chanel Meager, Kim Kandan, Musa Ntuli, Noluthando Kubeka, Savanna Bigara and Kelsey Bigara

VENUE: The Catalina Theatre

UNTIL: January 10

RATING: *

CHILDREN’S theatre writer Sandy Bigara began staging her The Princess and the Frog last week at the wharf-side Catalina Theatre.

The tale takes its young audience on a journey with a very spoilt and selfish Princess Applegreen, who has a lesson or two to learn about loving and caring for others.

A broken promise leads to her striking up an unexpected friendship with a frog – who is actually a dashing prince living under a spell.

The only way to break the spell holding sway over him is by winning the affections of the princess. But can a frog, who appals the spoilt princess, make her fall in love with him?

From a critics perspective I’d have to say I expected more from Bigara. This storyline seemed a bit flat and at times the flow from scene to scene seemed a bit drawn out.

It could have been smoother and quicker.

There was also an instance when the little audience were invited to take out their white stars and sing along. It seemed perhaps that white stars were supposed to be handed out before the show to tie in with what was going on stage. But clearly this was not the case.

However, Bigara’s popular entertainment style involving audience interaction seemed to work well with the youngsters who were keen to sing and clap along in parts. Perhaps there could have been more of this added in.

The adult cast did a fair job in their roles, although voice projection all around was lacking. Some work is also needed with keeping the little cast members focused onstage. They were, on a number of occasions, seemingly distracted and fidgety.

All said and done, while I feel the show needs some polishing, I watched with a crowd of littlies who seemed entertained for most of the production.

The holidays are long and if you’re looking for an outing, particularly to keep the littlies busy for a while, this could be an option for you.

• Shows daily at 2.30pm. R80 kids, R100 for adults (school bookings till tomorrow: R60) at Computicket/Shoprite Checkers.

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