The World of the Brothers Grimm
Joff Schmidt | CBC News | Posted: July 17, 2016 3:03 AM | Last Updated: July 17, 2016
TWO STARS | Not entirely grim, but certainly not great
Rating: ★★
Company: Merlyn Productions, Winnipeg
Genre: Play — Comedy
Venue: 30 — Kid's Venue
Our invitation into the Grimm world comes with a flourish — literally — as Ben McMahon's trumpeting servant announces the arrival of a storytelling king in a great bit of clownish fun.
Unfortunately, it's pretty much where the fun starts and ends.
Carolyn Lane's adaptation of three Grimm tales (none of the more gory ones, thankfully) is earnest to the point of being dull.
This adaptation of three Grimm tales is earnest to the point of being dull. - Joff Schmidt
There are some lovely moral lessons here about being humble, thankful and gracious. And also some less lovely lessons about a woman's place in the world (progressive, this adaptation ain't).
In spite of being given a handsome staging from Merlyn Productions, the show simply runs out of any power to engage its young audience well before its 55 minutes are done.
Not entirely grim, but certainly not great.