We stretched our legs and went to the opening night of The House with Chicken Legs by Les Enfants Terrible at York Theatre Royal. Based on the novel by Sophie Anderson and adapted for the stage by Oliver Lansley, we hadn’t read the book so didn’t know what to expect…
The striking design is the first thing that caught my eye. We arrived to a ramshackle house and fences of bones and skulls, silhouetted by a projected cityscape. We soon find out that this is no ordinary house; it travels by chicken legs to aid Baba in her role to guide the deceased to The Land of the Dead.
Helped by Marinka, they greet the dead like old friends, with drinks and bowls of borscht, before helping them through a portal to the stars.
Music to Our Ears
Live music adds a real richness to the production, and the talented cast work wonderfully together to bring this Slavic story to life. Puppetry adds variety, from Jack Daw the…well…jackdaw…to miniature people, all beautifully articulated. Costumes are all well designed, and the show has a strong style.
Eve De Leon Allen excels as Marinka, and Lisa Howard adds both comic relief and poignancy as Baba. In the second act Marinka meets Yaga, played by Stephanie Levi-John, who has a real flair for the role and bags of energy. Elouise Warboys play Nina with a youthful innocence, and is another strong vocalist.
Michael Barker as Ben has plenty of boyish charm, and his blossoming relationship with Marinka is heartfelt and believable. Dan Willis is no bird-brain, and puppeteers to perfection – with a convincing squawk to boot!
All the actor-musicians play multiple roles, and this is a truly the epitome of an ensemble affair.
Legs Akimbo
Technically, a few things were amiss on this opening night too. Set changes weren’t as slick as they could be, lightning cues were missed and sound levels weren’t balanced. Vocals during songs were often hard to hear – especially in the fast and loud ‘Yaga House Party’.
Was this enough to ruffle my feathers though? No, it’s worth noting that this is the first (chicken) leg of the tour, and the very first performance in this new venue. We had also been forewarned that there may be a few issues, whilst the show nests into The York Theatre Royal.
Does the house sprout chicken legs? Yes, but sadly this was disappointedly anticlimactic. In a show that’s hatched many clever creative ideas, this visual effect could be achieved more inventively. Once in place, the illusion of movement is strong, but I’d have liked for the appearance to be more sudden, and a bigger reveal worthy of the show’s title.
Niggles aside, this is a show that tells a story beautifully, and combines puppetry, projection and live music with a strong ensemble performance. It’s a complex production that looks ambitious to tour, and I hope it can find its touring feet and really take flight as the run continues.
For your brood?
Is it a family show? At 2 hours 30 minutes with interval, it’s a lengthy production that isn’t always pacy. Our ten-year-old was restless but, to our surprise, our seven-year-old seemed to enjoy it much more. There isn’t a great deal of interaction but it’s certainly visual and colourful and the songs are memorable.
The recommended age is 9+ and there isn’t anything particularly dark or scary except some covered faces in skull masks and, later, oversized skull heads during a Day of the Dead Festival. Occasionally, sound effects are speaker-shakingly loud, but our two weren’t phased by this.
It’s worth noting there is a theme of loss throughout, and some scenes are incredibly moving. Death is handled sensitively and as a celebration of life, and it may be a good springboard to discuss loss with younger theatregoers.
MAGIC RATING
VALUE FOR MONEY
OVERALL
The House with Chicken Legs continues at York Theatre Royal until Saturday 9th September, before flying the coop and heading to Leeds Playhouse 13th to 16th September. Book for York at www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/the-house-with-chicken-legs/
Disclaimer: Tickets were kindly provided for this performance, however all opinions are honest and are our own.
Review Wizard 