The Happy Prince – a brilliant start to La Mama’s 50th year!
The Happy Prince is the opening show in the celebration of La Mama’s 50th year of theatrical excellence at the original playhouse in Faraday Street Carlton.
The La Mama Carlton stage served well as a stark background to this gripping, provocative performance. The 2 protagonists had me spell bound from the moment the stage was lit, so raw, honest, and literal, the intimacy of the La Mama Carlton stage drew me immediately into the story.
This fable of selflessness, love and friendship between the weeping, bejewelled golden statue and the jaunty little swallow has been told many times since written by Oscar Wilde as an entertainment for his children more than a century ago.
I really do not want to say too much about this play, who am I to dissect Oscar Wilde, be prepared to be mused. I found this extremely pleasing version of the story, slightly abridged to such good effect. Director Stephen Nicolazzo has done a marvellous job!
Oscar Wilde would be well pleased to know his work was presented in such a way at such a time in our society…the performances by Janine Watson and Catherine Davies blew me away.
The Happy Prince is for the watching, the engagement, the raw vitality that these two performers bring to the stage as they envelope us in this timeless story during this two-handed master work.
A must see for not only Wilde fans, The Happy Prince will be being performed until January 29th.
Performed by Janine Watson and Catherine Davies
Directed by Stephen Nicolazzo
Designed by Eugyeene Teh and Katie Sfetkidis
Sound by Daniel Nixon
January 18 – 29
Wed 6.30 | Thur – Sat 7.30pm | Sun 4pm
Approximately 60 minutes
La Mama Theatre
205 Faraday Street, Carlton
$25 Full | $15 Concession
Available via www.lamama.com.au or 9347 6142
