Looking at well-known stories from a new perspective is always interesting: the quest to be ‘belle of the ball’ and live ‘happily ever after’ is the common theme of Cinderella, yet usually the story looks entirely from the point of view of Cinderella.Rashdash‘s version of the Cinderella story is re-told from the perspective of the Ugly Sisters and it is very entertaining. In this version, the Ugly sisters, like Elphaba,in Wicked, are forces to be reckoned with – strong female characters who are misunderstood and misrepresented by the media. This flip side to traditionally evil archetypes is appealing. From the outset, Abbi Greenland (Emerald) and Helen Goalen (Pearl) command the stage. The sisters are out and proud, loud and disruptive, mischievous, and (sometimes) vulnerable, and they have a point, actually. You don’t empathise with characters until you ‘walk in their shoes’ and see their human side.
The Ugly Sisters is a fairytale rock concert engaging us through a mix of song, dance and theatre. All credit to Rashdash, who are a great team and accomplished performers in music, dance and theatre (which is NOT easy). Ugly Sisters is smartly directed by Kyle Davies and cleverly scripted. The music played by band Not now Bernard was created with RashDash and it is integrated smoothly into the whole production. The band is centre stage and effortlessly take on roles within the production. There are some poignant moments and some sinister implications to the tale though. Who decides what is beautiful? Who decides what is good and what is bad? Who controls what and how you see the world and the people in it? Better make sure it is you (and not the media).
I don’t want to give too much away, as the surprise is really part of the pleasure, but when you go, you are in for a real treat. My favourite bit involved a beat-box rant about ‘Cindy -ella’ with the help of a loop machine (ingenious little tools). I also loved the costumes and especially the shoes – colourful, shiny, part modern /part pantomime – they worked perfectly with this story! Indeed that balance between pantomime and real life is well played throughout the production. Near the end, there is a modern ‘Carrie’-esque moment of public shaming of the sisters – we don’t see how this ends (but I imagine heads will roll.)
The Ugly Sisters made me want to jump up and down, trample on ‘Barbie’, and release my inner brat! Rashdash have created a fantastical and fun brand of musical theatricality. You get exactly what it says on the tin: a messy, noisy romp that’s all about women, freedom and doing exactly what you please (well, if you stay away from the media that is).
Rashdash’s ‘The Ugly Sisters‘ was at West Yorkshire Playhouse 14th and 15th September 2013 and can be seen at CAST in Doncaster on 9th October, Theatre Royal in Wakefield on 6th Novemeber and Barnsley Civic on 9th November ( for full listings click here.)