By Karyn Lee Greig
The story of The 3 Little Pigs has its origins in European folklore, dating back to oral tradition. However, the earliest published version of the story is from Dartmoor, Devon, England in 1853, about three little pixies and a fox instead of the three pigs and the wolf. The Three Little Pigs proper was first found in The Nursery Rhymes of England (c.1886), by James Halliwell-Phillipps. It included, for the first time in print, the well-known phrases ‘not by the hair of my chinny chin chin’ and ‘I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in’. However, the story in its arguably best-known form appeared in English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs, Australian writer and folklorist, published on June 19, 1890, crediting Halliwell as his source. It included the full version of the famous words by Wolf and the little pigs: ‘Little pig, little pig let me come in’ etc.
In 1933 Walt Disney’s animated version came to the silver screen and became a classic. Disney gave each character its own personality with the iconic song ‘Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?’, which became a symbol of hope during the depression. In 2012 the story was made into a musical by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, commissioned by the Singapore Repertory Theatre – the version you see here.
In this production we are greeted with the three pig siblings’ back story. Comically named Bar, Bee and Q, must leave the pigsty where they were raised, and go out into the world to make their own homes. In so doing they are encouraged by their mother to learn the value of ‘sticking together’ and resilience.
Ben Hamilton (Bar), Isabelle Davis (Bee) and Zak Vasiliou (Q) are great as the three little pigs. I enjoyed their energy and lovely vocal harmonies. Their dancing skills are displayed via the excellent choreography by Louise Panagiotidis. Tayla Thomas (Mother Pig) and Isabelle Davis’ (Bee) have particularly strong vocals and stage presence. Tristan Sicari was a fittingly ‘big’ and ‘bad’ as the wolf. He filled the stage with solos such as A Bit Misunderstood and I’ll Huff and I’ll Puff. I was amused by his black Elvis-like wig, and the two large parrot ‘backing-singer’ puppets that accompany him when he first appears. We could have seen more of them as comic commentary to the wolf’s subsequent actions.
Abbey Stanway’s set design is wonderfully colourful and ‘pop-up’, like a 3D children’s popup book. Karen Spencer’s clever costume designs are simple but very evocative. The fun lighting design by Max Wood includes some comic gobo effects denoting conflict. Director Tahra Cannon should be congratulated for bringing it all together.
This said, the Convenient Tradesperson’s gags fall rather flat, the music is somewhat loud towards the front (our 3-year-old put his fingers over his ears), and more could be made of the audience participation and comedy in general – but these are relatively small points.
This is a quality school holiday show that the children and adults with and around me clearly enjoyed. Treat the family to this great piece of live theatre.
Image: Nicole Cleary
