The Happy Prince – Bewley’s Cafe Theatre @ Powerscourt – Review by Frank L.

Written by Oscar Wilde

Performed by Michael James Ford
For adults and children (7+) alike

Michael James Ford has taken Wilde’s short story and recites the text with a variety of voices and bodily movements. He is dressed in a dinner jacket. The formality of his dress becomes invisible as he flies like the Swallow, bows like the Reed or cries like the Happy Prince. A reed is the sole prop. What Michael James Ford does with his various voices and subtle bodily movements is to illustrate Wilde’s words. In so doing he illuminates it. It is as if the text was alive.

The Happy Prince was published as a children’s story in 1888. It is timeless and like all good fairy tales it is as relevant for adults as it is for so-called children. With the summer weather at the moment being far from suitable for the beach, a trip to Bewley’s Theatre to watch Michael James Ford weave his magic in the performance of Wilde’s great story will be a beneficial way to savour the text before reading it aloud as a fairytale. Children of all ages will be enhanced by Michael James Ford’s tour de force.

Performed by Michael James Ford and Trevor Knight

Directed by Bairbre Ni Chaoimh

Designed by Jack Kirwan

Music by Trevor Knight