The Little Matchgirl and Other Happier Tales (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at The Globe, London) from the stories of Hans Christian Andersen and Other Storytellers

Though there may be no story by Andersen more tragic than The Little Matchgirl, in this lovely, sweet mashup she pays for stories from Ole Shuteye, (a warm, charming and extremely funny Paul Hunter) the ringleader of a band of merry storytellers/dancers/singers and acrobats with her precious matches; giving both light and warmth to the tales and herself.  Edie Edmundson beautifully breathes life into a Matchgirl who seems less a puppet than a human with Ms. Edmundson’s help.

The happier tales told are Thumbelina, The Princess and the Pea and The Emperor’s New Clothes, each wonderfully done with a combination of song, puppetry, dance and storytelling.  The Emperor’s New Clothes is laugh-out-loud funny. Paul Hunter plays the ragingly vain Emperor for laughs; as shallow as a puddle while Bettrys Jones and Jack Shalloo are the absolutely hysterical ‘designers’ who massage his ego, steal his kingdom and leave him standing before all in a ‘birthday suit’ which is a marvel of costume design.

The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is a jewel box; Shakespeare’s Globe in miniature. Lit entirely by candles the theatre was drenched in warm, wavering light that added a beautiful visual depth to the performances.

Old Shuteye and his gang give a performance rich with music, song and familiar stories whimsically retold.