Rumpelstiltskin - The West Briton

"This is an ingenious production – perhaps the most rewarding I’ve seen by Miracle – and the perfect start to the festive season. Just don’t expect the usual pantomime – yes, there is a sing-along, a villain, a princess and a dame. But Hot Codlins isn’t your usual seasonal tune, Rumpelstiltskin is a man more sinned against than sinning, the princess a spoiled, modern little thing and the dame an ironic force of nature – half Rupert Everett, half soprano.

Throw in a vain prince with lots of self-congratulatory certificates, a preening forest fairy, severed digits, mistimed explosions and off-stage mayhem and you have an absolute delight, guaranteed to have you coughing up in glee the spiders’ legs so beloved of Rumpy.

Cleverly presented as if by a touring group of the 19th century, there is just as much action in the wings as there is on stage. The cast of four are superb – Tom Adams is quite brilliant as Mr Ffitch/the Queen/Forest Fairy but Ben Dyson, Jason Squibb and Sally Crooks are equally charismatic. Designers Alan and Jude Munden, of Penryn, have created real works of art with the exquisite sets and contraptions – the dragon will draw gasps at every venue. Don’t miss it!"

Lee Trewhela, West Briton