Greshams school is performing at the Fringe for the 13th consecutive year. This production includes a selection of stories from the Brothers Grimm, including Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White.
Each story is told by a narrator, while the salient parts are acted out. At the same time other cast members sing, play music and provide sound effects. The stage is largely bare of props; curtains or sheets are used to signify a house, a bed or a even a grave. A girl standing with her arms up is a tree. The audience has to use its imagination, which perhaps is how it should be for fairy tales.
As usual the performance is very good, particularly so given the age of the cast members. There is a great deal of humour put into each story so adults are able to enjoy it as much as children. The stories are based on the original Grimm Brothers versions so may be more bloodthirsty than the Disney versions. In these stories evil step-sisters cut off parts of their feet to try to make slippers fit and later have their eyes pecked out.
