An enchanted princess, a hapless prince and his not-so-willing dragon sidekick are expected to make some magic sparks fly in Tree House Youth Theatre’s spring musical, Sleeping Beauty.
Artistic director Matt Gould confessed that he usually stays away from “anachronistic” tales of damsels in distress and male heroes riding to their rescue.
But something about Chad Henry and Charles Way’s fresh take on this fairy tale charmed him to the core.
“The music is absolutely beautiful,” said Gould, who was bowled over by songs that are more melodic and nuanced that those of standard, belt-’em-out Broadway musicals.
This version of Sleeping Beauty — which runs from Thursday to June 9 at the Scott Block in downtown Red Deer — was first produced in London, and offers a few departures from the Charles Perrault story from 1697. (The Brothers Grimm also put out a version of Sleeping Beauty called Little Briar Rose.)
The princess is also called Briar Rose here, but is more spunky than your average fairy-tale princess. Gould said she bosses Prince Owain around when they are both 12-year-olds, horsing around the castle.
But then Briar Rose becomes enchanted by a disgruntled fairy and falls asleep for 100 years. Prince Owain is all set to ride to her rescue, but becomes sidetracked by some deadly forest sprites, and later by the Spider King, who tries his darndest to prevent Owain’s heroic intervention.
Each battle takes Owain about 50 fairy-tale years, which would probably amount to a couple of nights for you or me, said Gould, with a laugh.
Just when the prince would seem too doddering to be of much help to poor Briar Rose, a good fairy intervenes, paving the way to a happy ending.
“It’s a pretty charming story — very charming actually,” said Gould, who encouraged his cast of 13 young actors to “unleash their voices” for the musical.
Teenagers, particularly girls, are notoriously self-conscious and reluctant to attract undue attention to themselves, he said. “I tell them, ‘Tree House is the opposite of school. Here we want you to make a spectacle of yourself.’ ”
Gould urged the actors to produce singing that originates “from way down in the earth,” because their voices will then be full of “passion, emotion and the ability to communicate.”
He believes family audiences will be as enchanted by this magical tale as he was. “The music is both lyrical and moving, powerful and primitive, and the timeless story is told with humour and depth.”
Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. shows (also 2 p.m. matinees on June 2, 9) are $17.50 ($14.50 students/seniors) from Ticket Central (403-347-0800). Recommended for ages six and up.
lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com