Director: Joyce Levinsohn
Cast: Genna Galloway, Lorraine Knox, Chris van Rensburg and a cast of children
Where: National Children's Theatre (NCT), Braamfontein
When: Until April 22
"How many times have you seen Peter Rabbit?", I asked my nine-year-old, a seasoned children's theatregoer. Four or five times, she reckoned, but she'd never seen the tale of Squirrel Nutkin performed before.
Perhaps that's the joy of Beatrix Potter's timeless stories - they can be treated in so many ways and turn out fresh each time. This retelling uses puppets for some tales and "real people" for others, headed by a cast of three young professionals, augmented by six polished children from the NCT workshops.
Genna Galloway, who looks remarkably like the pictures of the young Beatrix Potter, holds the action together. She started to relax during the show and will no doubt be more natural during the rest of the run.
Lorraine Knox was strong and delightful through her various roles, from Beatrix's rather stern mother, to the maternal Mrs Rabbit, and a very musical Jemina Puddleduck (these two stories were told with puppets).
The children, in fluffy-tailed suits, acted out the story of Squirrel Nutkin with Chris van Rensburg as the formidable Brown Owl. This versatile actor also played the bushy-tailed Mr Fox and a wonderfully Scottish Mr McGregor. The children also told the story of Mrs Tiggywinkle with excellent timing and complete aplomb.
Then, just when you thought you'd seen it all, the cast burst into song, bringing to life some of Beatrix Potter's nursery rhymes.
It's a simple show, but then that's the essence of Potter's tales. Simple, fresh and charming. Booking at Computicket or at the theatre by calling 011-484-1584.