In the world of children’s programming, there is a spectrum from well-executed to well intentioned through to absolutely insulting. The Steadfast Tin Soldier falls neatly into the second category. There is a lot to this love story and even to the multi-media, live action adventure musical show which makes it an excellent hour of diversion for any young audience. However, the Paper Finch Theatre production unfortunately is a show of lost opportunities.
The entire opening sequence which recounts at lightning pace the capture of the Tin Soldier, setting up neatly the story as he retells it to his rodent captors. This is followed by the introduction of the rest of the infantry which is immensely hard to follow, with dialogue fired off faster than the little tin rifles which they are so fond of singing about. Accompanied by live music, they began a rhyming song, much of which was distressingly lost to the high intensity dancing, lax articulation and unfortunate lack of vocal strength. It is particularly disappointing as the delight at each new rhyme scheme beams from their pink cheeked faces and I wanted to know what all the fun was about. As an ensemble, the singing was quite pleasant, with some very complex harmonies, but a few sour notes from the solos take a toll on the ear. By the time we make it to the playroom, meeting all the other toys, much of the magic of the show has gone, however, steadfast, the actors continue on admirably.
The plight of the tin soldier, whose one leg is incomplete from a lack of tin in the firing, appears at first to set up an underdog story of overcoming adversity when he is cast aside by his little boy and the other officers. Yet this plotline is quickly forgotten with the introduction of the paper ballerina, an impressive bit of puppetry controlled beautifully by three puppeteers accompanied by the most haunting recurring melody in the show.
The shadow puppetry is put to good use throughout, creating seamlessly fluid scene shifts. There are also a few truly imaginative moments, including a very funny pea fight and some creatively timed paper airplanes. The overriding issue with the show is simply that, with few exceptions, these are not likeable characters; much of the acting is superficial or so over the top as to scare some of the children into wanting to leave.
However, there is a saying in musical theatre, “Always focus on the final note. That’s all the audience remembers anyway.” It appears Steadfast Tin Soldier has taken a page from the book, as the end of this show, which takes an about left turn, is so beautiful, poignant and well-realized as to make this reviewer slightly angry at the lack of this intensity and artistry throughout. Much like the character himself, The Steadfast Tin Soldier lacks a heart until the end, when it might be just a little too late. But I did spend the next two days singing “I was born a man of tin”, so I suppose they won me over in the end. Overall then, the story is compelling, executed with enthusiasm if not artistry.
