Upstaged Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Taking a wild and devilish detour from the usual festive programming, The Royal Exchange transport their audience to a remote and snowy Scottish border town for an enchanting and supernatural tale this Christmas. The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart is an inspired and wonderfully ridiculous play anchored in Scottish folklore and Border balladry.
An inspired and wonderfully ridiculous play anchored in Scottish folklore…
Anxious academic Prudencia Hart specialises in folklore, most specifically the topography of hell. One wintry morning she sets off to attend a conference in the remote town of Kelso on the Scottish Borders. As she shares her theories with her academic colleagues, the snow falls thick and fast outside. Unable to escape, the night takes her on a trippy journey of unexpected twists and surreal encounters. In a bid to escape the hellish sequence of events, Prudencia decides to run into the snowy night to find a B&B – and it is a decision that will be the making of her…
The lively group of musician-performers welcome the audience with a pre-show folk session. Surrounded by empty bottles and glasses, the folksy band hint at writer David Greig and co-creator Wils Wilson’s initial drive to produce a theatre ballad told in a pub. Lively and animated, the cast move smoothly into the ballad of Prudencia Hart.
Under Debbie Hannan’s directorial hand, the cast of six draw the audience close. The Exchange’s in-the-round stage feels inviting and informal – decked out with Max Johns’ delightful design – small wooden buildings create a village scene – the perfect backdrop for the animated storytelling. The small wooden constructions double up as stepping stones, platforms and seats. While, in the second half of the show, carpets are peeled back to reveal illustrator Ellie Foreman-Peck’s illustrations of the underworld as the play takes a supernatural turn.
The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart is best experienced with an element of surprise and no preconceived ideas.
With a strong ensemble of performers – Joanne Thomson unravels beautifully as Prudencia, Oliver Wellington is a huge source of fun as bumbling academic Colin Syme and Paul Tinto’s devil is calm and enigmatic. Perhaps, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart is best experienced with an element of surprise and no preconceived ideas – let the rhyming couplets, spirited vocals and Malin Lewis’ live score seduce you – you’ll find no spoilers in this review.
The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart is a raucous and pleasing performance for the festive season; witty, rowdy and creepy – in perfect contrast to the classic, sparkly Christmas shows. Don’t miss out.
-Kristy Stott
The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart plays at the Royal Exchange until 15 January 2021.