THEATRE-GOERS are taken on an enchanting intergalactic adventure in the latest Christmas production at the Brewhouse Theatre, The Little Prince.
The family-friendly show marks a long-awaited return to the stage for Metta Theatre, the London and Somerset-based company behind this stage adaptation of a much-loved story by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
This marks Metta's first full production since 2019 and comes a year after it was forced to cancel a London run of another musical, The Rhythmics, due to Covid.
The Little Prince brings spectacular circus skills and an excellent original soundtrack to the stage for a tale of love, friendship and trust.
It follows a World War II pilot (Rosalind Ford) who faces death after crash-landing in the Sahara Desert with just days to find water or fix her plane's engine.
Instead, she finds the Little Prince (Joshua Frazer), a mysterious child who has left behind his tiny asteroid and beloved rose to travel through the universe.
The two become friends as the planet-hopping prince tells his tale and shares his encounters with the curious characters he met on his way to earth.
Audiences are treated to staggering feats of acrobatics and amazing stunts throughout the performance, especially from the multi-talented Frazer.
He leads the show brilliantly with Ford, supported by several other physical performers and singers.
Ben Kaufman brings several roles to life with his wit and use of physical comedy while Tilly Lee Kronic (Flower/Fox), Hazel Lam (Fox/Flower) and Freya Stokka (ensemble) all impress.
The inclusion of a youth ensemble from Taunton and the surrounding area is a nice touch, bringing local talents aged between nine and 17 into the spotlight.
The result is a charming and captivating piece of musical theatre for all ages.
At the end of the second night, the cast and crew received a well-earned standing ovation before the director and musical director were given flowers.
The Little Prince opened at the Brewhouse Theatre on December 6 and runs until December 30.
Ticket prices range between £19.50 and £25 for adults. Entry will cost between £16 and £18 for children aged 12 and under.
The company is putting on two BSL interpreted performances (December 10, December 22); a relaxed performance for people with autism, learning disabilities, or sensory and communication disorders (December 20), and an audio described performance (December 21).
All performances are creatively captioned to help deaf, deafened and hard of hearing audiences immerse themselves more fully in the production.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/the-little-prince-christmas-2022.
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