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Stage: The Emperor’s New Clothes – Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Durban (until July 7)
REVIEW BY BILLY SUTER

FABULOUS family fare is on offer this July holiday season by Durban’s KickstArt theatre company which, following previous mid-year treats such as The Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh, Charlotte’s Web and James and the Giant Peach, once again dips into children’s literature for a colourful stage spectacle that both entertains and serves food for thought.

This time around we have a sweet and vibrant reworking of that classic Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale The Emperor’s New Clothes, a tale of vanity, deception, the value of friendship, and the importance of speaking the truth and being true to oneself.

It is a family musical which, never before staged professionally in South Africa, offers a dozen appealing, often amusing songs by Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (book and lyrics). This is the duo that gave us the popular musicals Seussical, Once on This Island, Anastasia and Ragtime.

Under the fun and playful direction of Steven Stead and set against exemplary cartoonish sets by Greg King, a company of eight, spirited singer-actors glide through a 65-minute story that is presented without an interval. The result is a slick romp buoyant with humour and fun surprises.

Daniel Anderson, who filled the title role in KickstArt’s Aladdin last year, is on good form as Emperor Marcus III, a bespectacled teenager perturbed about having to rule over a land facing problems with leaking dams and potholed roads.

The boy is worried. He’s only read the first chapter of How to Be a Better Emperor, sings a song about his fear of not living up to expectations set by his ancestors, and is concerned he will not look regal and manly enough to win the approval of the citizens of the land.

Step one, he decides – after chatting to a pal called Arno, the mop-wielding, palace scrub boy (diminutive scene-stealer Mthokozisi Zulu) – is to make himself look as terrific and regal as possible.

So Marcus puts big demands on his clothes-maker Deena (an animated and very amusing Marion Loudon), as well as his advisor (Lyle Buxton), to create the finest array of fancy garments for a city parade. However, it’s all to no avail as Marcus is not impressed with any of Deena’s over-the-top clothes.

A passing Swindler (a camp and fun Roland Perold, who is also the show’s musical director) catches wind of Marcus’s dilemma and decides to cash in on it. He approaches the young emperor with an offer of creating “magic”’ clothes that only a select few can see.

This move takes the story in a new direction that includes loads of hilarity, and surprises that include a brush with a fire-breathing dragon, before Marcus gets to grips with his reality and steers the show towards a happy ending.

Featuring lighting design by Stephen Woodroffe, sound design by Stephanie Pais and great costumes by Shanti Naidoo, The Emperor’s New Clothes also features a trio of strong-voiced village maidens, who come and go throughout the show. They are played with aplomb by Roshanda Lewis and Keryn Lynne Scott (both wonderful in KickstArt’s recent Company) and Amahle Tembe (Piglet in KickstArt’s last revival of Winnie the Pooh).

The Emperor’s New Clothes is a perfect choice if you’re seeking something to spoil the young of all ages. Performances are at 2.30pm every Tuesday to Sunday until July 7. Booking is at Webtickets.