Hansel and Gretel – Lyric Theatre – Review
by Cathy Brown

Photo Credit –  Carrie Davenport

Hansel and Gretel, A Lyric Theatre Production, Lyric Theatre, Belfast
Fri 24 Nov 2023—Sat 6 Jan 2024 Family

Whilst ‘Hansel and Gretel’ is generally considered a children’s fairytale, the originally gruesome Grimm’s tale of cruelty and parental neglect isn’t in any way fluffy. Tara Lynne O’Neill’s imaginative adaptation of the well-known story sweetens the darker edges of the story and is just the tonic for this pre-Christmas season.

In this Lyric Theatre production, the tale of siblings lost in the woods is fleshed out by a confident framing device, which celebrates the joy of books and the power of the imagination. Monty is a put-upon boy, forever bullied at school and nicknamed ‘Mouse’, who loses himself in books. When he finds himself literally lost in the world of Hansel and Gretel – helping the pair to escape the twin threats of their evil Aunt and a child-hungry witch – he sets off on a journey of self-discovery to tell his own story.

Ably bringing O’Neill’s sprightly script to life, director Patrick J O’Reilly’s imagination is big and along with set designer Stuart Marshall and lighting designer Mary Tumelty, they use a striking set and stunning lighting effects to bring a sprinkling of magic to the Lyric stage. Movable bookcases simulate houses and forests, while the tantalisingly tempting gingerbread house – whose pastel colours are a sharp contrast to the browns of the bookish set – is a production highlight.  Good use is made of the auditorium, with cast members entering from unusual places to the delight of the young audience and the costumes all incorporate paper elements to fully integrate the story-telling theme.

The ensemble cast of five play multiple roles around the mousy Monty. Conor Quinn is a winning central presence with a strong singing voice and his Monty is much more than just a foil for the madness going on around him. As Hansel & Gretel, Odhrán McNulty and Catriona McFeeley are an engaging pair, all sassy determination and squabble – no prissiness here.

The plot is a parade of strong set pieces which makes the most of the talented cast. Christina Nelson is on top form as both a scheming greedy Aunt and a delightfully helpful Beaver Troop leader, while Mark Dugdale very nearly steals the show as Bertie, a lounge-singing bat. Orla Gormley invests her Witch with a wonderfully comic incompetence and anxiety before embracing her true nature in a Bonnie-Tyler inflected song which shows off her stunning vocals.

The show could be a little shorter, to accommodate those little people with smaller attention spans, but it is thankfully never long before another great musical number perks up the action. At the heart of the production are Richardson’s excellent songs in a range of styles, from 80s pop to Waitsian vaudeville, all ably performed by the strong-voiced cast.

Hansel & Gretel is a delight of a show, serving all the verve and energy of a West End production through the engaging performances of this enthusiastic cast, while at the same time gently drawing out the themes of growing up and finding your own place in the world. Children and the young at heart will eat up this sweet Christmas slice of entertainment.

The Company – Cast:

Mark Dugdale
Orla Gormley
Catriona McFeely
Odhrán McNulty
Christina Nelson
Conor Quinn

Tara Lynne O’Neill – Writer
Patrick J O’Reilly – Director
Katie Richardson – Music and Lyrics: Composer & Sound Designer
Stuart Marshall – Set Designer
Mary Tumelty – Lighting Designer
Gillian Lennox – Costume Designer
Paula O’Reilly – Choreographer