REVIEW: Babes In The Woods

The hilarity starts immediately with the Christmas pantomime created especially for all-time favourite venue, the Old Fitz, an onslaught of tacky tinsel curtain and theatrical haze enveloping the stage and paper bags of cabbage leaves on our seats to hurl at the actors, medieval style. An organist wearing a red fez and dressing gown plays continuous accompaniment, left of stage, a soundtrack of reworked popular tunes and some brand new songs. There are four signs above the stage that light up and audience interaction is encouraged: “applaud”, “boo hiss”, ”it’s behind you” and “get on with it”. We get in the Christmas spirit and someone chooses a well-timed moment to impart a full cabbage bag at an unsuspecting actor.

Babes in the Woods is set in the Australian bush and is described as ‘a little bit bogan’. It explores the myths we surround ourselves with and attempts to envisage a whole new world, and is based on the good works of Tom Wright. As Phil Rouse, the Artistic Director and writer of Babes in the Woods instructs: “Have fun. Don’t be a wanker.”

There’s an emu hand puppet named Flapgherkin (Eliza Reilly) as the commentator/narrator. Aunty Avericia (Annie Byron) is trying to keep her brother’s riches from her niece and nephew. If something happens to the children their evil Aunt gets to keep the inheritance. So she conspires to take the babes to the secret river. Along the way there is a wood chopper Lumber Jack, sheet-clad ghosts and kitsch gender bending.

Beer tinnies are circulated around the audience by the cast from an esky for $5. There are political references to Mike Baird and the lock out laws and white male privilege. Redline Productions’ own spin on the much-loved pantomime formula is an antidote for the hell of a year we’ve all had. (MS)

Until Dec 21, then Jan 6–21 (Tues-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 5pm). Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo. $28-$38, with meal deal $50-$55. Tickets & info: www.redlineproductions.com.au or www.oldfitztheatre.com