In 1812 Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm of Germany pulled together a series of fairy tales cleaned them up (a bit) and published the collected work as Childrens and Household Tales.  Two centuries later, they were retold by author Philip Pullman and adapted for the stage by Philip Wilson. Six of them were enacted by the Dulwich Players this midsummer (2018) in the gardens of Bell House. The Players, to their credit, did not pull their punches as children and adults endured unspeakable acts. But all was put right in the end, and a sense of levity in each play relieved the tension.

 

The long-suffering Dave Russell-Smith distinguished himself by unknowingly eating his child in a stew (The Juniper Tree), enduring being blinded by a thorn bush, (Rapunzel) and attempting to commit incest with his daughter (Thousandfurs).  Despite all this he played each role with gusto: Quentin Tarantino could not have asked for more.  Indeed, the whole cast doubled, tripled and quadrupled their roles, both within the same play and across the collection of six. Philippa Watts, initially playing Rapunzel with great energy and charm played at least five roles (complete with different accents) in both Juniper Tree and Faithful Johannes, Gill Daly stepped forward five different ways in Thousandfurs, as did Juliet Benning and Yohann Philip, both showing  similar feats of versatility with Louise Norman winning the record for six roles in one play! 

 

The evening started with Rapunzel, probably the most familiar tale of the six, and was  played with great energy and charm throughout, with Louise Norman excelling  as  the wicked  witch, who took away the child of her neighbours at birth. Not willing to submit to this fate, Paul Sykes and Emily Lamm upstaged themselves by playing the role of their own grandchildren, on their knees. A glory to behold: particularly Paul in a cap. 

 

Another of my favourite characters was Hans-my-Hedgehog (Juliet Benning) - half man half hedgehog - ostracised by his father (Paul Sykes) but  eventually reborn through marriage to a princess, Lucinda Lane, who was later was threatened with incest in Thousandfurs, and responded magnificently. And let’s not forget Faithful Johannes, played with manly charm by Gill Daly, chastising the young king  played with great effectiveness by Yohann Philip. 

 

If you are confused by all this chopping and changing - and one or two of the plays were pretty weird - it doesn’t matter.  Words do not do them justice. The exuberance of each member of cast was infectious and carried the audience along with them on the literal and actual journey.  And  if you were still feeling uneasy about cannibalism and incest, there was plenty of light relief in the songs which linked  each play performed by an ensemble of Singers&Shakers  who also took responsibility for the many costume and prop changes onstage, with the Grimm Unplugged trio of musicians taking on the role of wandering minstrels. The beautiful music  was composed by keyboardist Paul Grim(m)wood  with lyrics, written for each of the plays, by the ever-versatile Gill Daly.  

 

The stage management team clearly had their work cut out with the inventiveness of their props (a rubber ring for a millstone; a scaffolding tower covered with a sheet for Rapunzel) and the  wonderful costumes - thrown on and off at speed - were delivered by Judy Douglas. And of course no production would be complete without  the indefatigable Denise Biffin performing her magic with make-up and hair. Jan Rae should take a well-deserved bow as director, taking a break from outdoor Shakespeare (and why not?). This  promenade of plays around the gardens of Bell House was huge fun. Let’s hope the Players get to act there again.

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Review by Matilde Powell-Sykes

I really liked going to Grimm Tales on Saturday afternoon. My friend and I sat at the front. My favourite  princess was Rapunzel. And Thousandfurs was my favourite story We have the book at school but it is called The Runaway Princess. I also enjoyed the Three Snake Leaves and listening to all the songs. I liked my Daddy best in Rapunzel's father when he had to try and climb a wall which was too high.

 

 

 
Review by Louis Powell-Sykes
I was excited to see Grimm Tales on Saturday. I especially liked the second story because Daddy was the king and a pirate. I also liked the man who played the soldier.