The Swan Theatre Stratford-Upon-Avon – until 19th January 2025
Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh
4****
The RSC’s rendition of The Red Shoes is a devilishly delicious treat. The Hans Christian Anderson tale has been revamped and reworked in a way to tantalise and terrify. Permeated with loss and laughter, its gruesome and gripping from its theatrical opening to its touching ending. Directed by Kimberley Rampersad and written by Nancy Harris, this version employs wonderful regional accents, cinematic scores and deceptively simple sets to enhance the storytelling.
16-year-old orphan Karen is left alone and temporarily mute by the devastating loss of her mother. Adopted by the wealthy, self-absorbed and self-serving Nugent Family, she soon realises she is their badge of philanthropy. Karen finds no love or care from her adoptive parents, Bob and Mariellla, and she is terrorised by her adoptive brother Clive, who is obsessed with chopping up and stuffing animals. Her only solace is the family’s kind housekeeper Mags, and her love for dancing. Needing new shoes for a charity event, Karen encounters the mysterious shoemaker Sylvestor, who persuades her to reject the sensible shoes Mariella insists she buys and instead offers her a pair of alluring red shoes. The shoes fit her perfectly and turn her world upside down, allowing her to express herself fully through dance and be seen, but they are not all that they appear to be.
This production presents some beautiful scenes to tell the story. Aside from the stunning dance pieces there are some moving moments and surprisingly hilarious retort amongst the characters. The dinner party scene is a triumph, the ball scene is dreamy, and the final dance will touch your heart.
Colin Richmond’s set and costume design is striking. The stage predominantly set in red is beautifully juxtaposed by costumes being on the other end of the colour palette in shades of green. A garish portrait of the Nugent’s doubling as a mirror fully exposing their ego’s is a joy to behold. Actors depicting taxidermy animals, disembodied legs displaying shoes and animatronic feet, all the stuff of true nightmares. Ryan Day’s lighting is atmospheric, bathing the stage in red, casting shadows and highlighting/lowlighting to add some true eeriness to the piece.
Nikki Cheung is wonderful as Karen whose exceptional dancing skills makes us believe that the shoes are imbued with magic. Dianne Pilkington balances her performance as hideously hypercritical Mariella perfectly. James Doherty completely embodies Bob’s conceitedness matching Mariella as the truly awful adoptive parents. Joseph Edwards is fascinating to watch as creepy Clive. Sebastien Torkia excells as Sylvestor/Priest, rhyming and scheming, plotting and preening. Sakuntala Ramanee is delightful as Mags, master manipulator of Mariella, but for all the right reasons.
Where this production struggles a little is with the songs. They don’t fully fit. Reminiscent of Hadestown but not as evocative, they struck an odd chord. However, Marc Teitler’s music, along with the band of seven, sat above the stage was majestic.
The RSC’s adaptation of The Red Shoes is entertaining, enchanting and an exciting alternative traditional Christmas production.