The Juniper Tree

Published Friday 22 February 2008 at 11:05 by Susan Elkin

You know you’re in for a treat with this one as soon as you see the rectangular set with side seating centred round a magic, symbolic Juniper tree. It is quite something for a community touring company in a village hall, and to be seated by assertive tree-fellers with tape measures so that the audience becomes a forest is engaging too. Local children and their families are already beginning to enjoy themselves.

Based on a quite dark Grimm fairy tale, Gillian Clarke’s play tells the story of a wicked stepmother, chillingly played by Ian Summers. This is no pantomime dame. She is a real and evil threat whose homely Lancastrian voice and pinnies are counterpointed with lupine growls and Titus Andronicus-style murder of the favourite son whose head is then served to his father for dinner. It makes good tragi-comic theatre. He does a jolly folksy song about previous conquests too.

There’s also a very fine performance from Michael Cox, whose voice work in a whole range of doubles is very impressive, from the troubled adolescent boy with a catch in his voice to the plummy cad of a shoe mender and the gor-blimey woodcutter. Talented Elisa de Grey can do extraordinary things with her face to convert herself into totally different people and her balletic body and sweet, strong singing voice are a real bonus. Becky Smith, meanwhile, gives a warm and sensitive account of the children’s loving but duped father. Don’t miss it if there’s a performance in your area.