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Printer-Friendly Mode'Princess and the Pea' a success
Student performance amuses both children and adults
February 26, 2007 —
Aimed towards a younger audience, the SVSU theatre department's presentation of "The Princess and the Pea" has a diverse amount of content that holds appeal for children and adults.
This was a relief, since I appeared to be the oldest person in the audience that didn't have a child with me.
Being only vaguely familiar with this Hans Christian Andersen story, I wasn't sure what to expect, other than the advertised appearance of a pea and a princess.
This, however, was not Andersen's original story, but rather an updated take on it, written by Travis Tyre.
The revamped version of the classic tale sets the story in 1860 Russia, adding a new layer to a timeless story.
With the change in time and setting, "The Princess and the Pea" becomes as much of a history lesson as it is entertainment.
The story's basic premise remains the same: a homeless girl is in reality a princess who was separated from her father as a baby. Seventeen years later, her father returns to the town in search of her. She has also recently become infatuated with the Czar, Alexander "Alexi" Nikolaevich, who is searching for a princess to marry.
Because princesses have such delicate skin and can feel anything, a pea is put under the stack of mattresses she is given to sleep on to see if it causes discomfort. When she reveals the next morning that she slept poorly, a wedding is immediately ordered.
Although the pea aspect of the story is a bit contrived, since it raises the question of how the girl could withstand homelessness and the bitter Russian winters, but is no match for a pea, the updated version of the story provides a nice blend of humor and history that override it.
Andrew Switalski, who plays Alexi, and Katie Muirhead, who plays Anya, provide energetic performances that don't allow the intensity of the play to slow down.
The younger members of the audience were entertained by the sights and physical gags the show offered, while the adults were amused by the more sophisticated material.
Only through precise timing from the cast is any of this possible. This holds especially true for Jason Parker and Tyler Frank, who play a pair of con men that are literally all over the place during the course of the show.
Stellar special effects and good set design also add depth to the performances on stage. Whether it's the recreations of a harsh Russian winter or the lavish interior of the palace, these elements become stars of the show at certain points.
These factors were enough to captivate an audience of young children for over an hour, which, as most parents know, made it nothing short of magic.