Robert Munsch’s work has been beloved by children for decades. The Canadian author wrote over seventy books that were translated into more than thirty languages. Last year, we lost him to his fight with Parkinson’s disease, and so, this production of his work comes at a poignant time. Carousel Theatre for Young Audiences is presenting writer Alissa Watson’s adaptation and expansion of one of Munsch’s most iconic works, “The Paper Bag Princess” this spring. When it comes to theatre for children, the options are usually limited, but this production is a treat for little ones and makes for a fun outing for the whole family.
Princess Elizabeth is your typical princess who lives in a castle with her father, the King, and her three sisters. When she thinks of life ahead she can see nothing beyond marrying Prince Ronald to whom she has been betrothed as a child. But a big bad dragon seems to have other plans for the Princess as he terrorizes her father’s kingdom and sweeps Prince Ronald away. Alone and scared, Elizabeth sets out on a quest to rescue the Prince and secure her happily ever after future. With the help of a Fairy Godmother she realises that setting her sights solely on a Prince probably isn’t the most worthwhile use of her time on our beautiful planet.
Watson’s adaptation is true to Munsch’s feminist take on the average princess in an average fairy tale. Munsch’s books are rebellious in plot, tone, and even imagery. His work consistently challenges the status quo and encourages children to see the world through a fantastical and off-kilter lens. Watson embraces Munsch’s spirit and emphasizes themes of independence, resilience, and the rejection of gender stereotypes. She introduces a handful of new characters and a few more plot points that flesh the original story out so that it fills an hour and keeps the audience fully engaged. She also incorporates lines from Munsch’s other works which make the play an ode to the late genius.
Right from the start, Starlynn Chen’s set with its colourful castle and hanging cotton clouds gets the magical atmosphere just right. From then on the great playwrighting by Watson and enthusiastic performances by the actors build a show that gets stronger as it proceeds. Marielle Ortinez plays four characters effortlessly, switching between them in record time. She especially impresses as the steam-punk Fairy Godmother and the villainous Dragon. Quinn Churchill plays one of Elizabeth’s annoying sisters and the, much overhyped, Prince Ronald. He incorporates physical comedy and exaggerated dancing to get many laughs. Merewyn Comeau plays Elizabeth and is the heart of the show. She is exactly who you picture when you read “The Paper bag Princess”. She embodies the innocence, defiance, and zeal that is integral to Elizabeth. Comeau and Churchill also pull off playing much younger characters with great confidence and ease. Watson’s writing and the performances never dumb things down, in fact, they manage to weave complex ethical lessons about feminism, gender, and bravery into the storytelling without forcing anything, and all the while finding a way to make it all land with children. This is what allows parents and older siblings to enjoy the show along with the younger folks.
Carousel Theatre’s “Paper Bag Princess” is a fantastic opportunity for fans of the book and fans of Robert Munsch, to engage with the work in an novel way that is great for learning, creativity, and thinking about art as multi-disciplinary.
Get your tickets here!