Primrose is a seriously spoiled brat and her-less-than-doting parents finally decide to lose her in the forest.
There she has encounters with Witch Brenda and Pardon, an outsize witch's cat, both with a peculiar physical resemblance to h emancipated folks. A very clever plot, devised and scripted by Martin Murphy, begins to thicken.
Brenda is a sad witch, no longer confident in her evil powers since the Big Bad Wolf, once a romantic interest, has stopped making the trip from the other side of the forest. She sees a chance to sharpen her spells by plonking a juicy girl in her magic cooking pot, but Pardon is really a soft slob, and risks all to get Primrose off the menu.
Characters, situations and dialogue are sophisticated enough to be enjoyed by adults, yet basic enough to carry children along. The acting is delightful, with Stanley Townsend's Pardon a real tour de force of comic creativity.
Pauline McLynn is a persuasively neurotic witch and Judith Ryan is everyone's idea of a brat from hell. Jimmy Fay directs this Bickerstaffe production with elan. It is nearly too good for the kids, but what the hell. Start them at the top, and it might just stick. Twice daily until January 6th (except December 24th-26th and 28th, and January 4th); booking at 01-679 5720
