‘Daddy, poor’s not very in at the mo,” lisps the ghastly Latrice, twin to the equally awful Anastasia, and sister to the patient, unmaterialistic Belle (Sara Lessore). Daddy has lost his fortune and the family home is now Le Gite Terrible. It may sound like panto, but the storytelling style of New International Encounter (NIE) is more subtle than that, and the company’s fairytale not only boasts a strong comic edge but is also quietly thoughtful.
It’s fitting that a show that makes us think about what we really value should be performed in such a simple, rustic fashion by a talented ensemble of actor-musicians. Some autumn leaves, a chandelier, a wheelbarrow and a wooden floor that doubles as a table are all that’s required to take us to 1920s France where misfortune – deserved and undeserved – brings out the best in the Beast (Martin Bonger) and the beastliness in humans.
The simplicity belies the sophistication of the stagecraft, and the company is skilled in conjuring mood and creating texture. Perhaps the Beast’s wooing scene could be tighter (although the audience interaction is nice), and I’m not entirely convinced that Amalia Vitale and Carly Davis’s terrible twins – who keep reminding us that Belle’s goodness can make her seem a bit of a creep – quite deserve their stony fate. But, overall, this two-hour show laced with music and NIE’s offbeat humour is a little cracker.
• At Cambridge Junction until 31 December. Box office: 01223 511511.
