Review of I Wish at HOME, Manchester.
It’s a momentous occasion for “actual fairy godmother” Effie – she’s about to grant her grumblefillionth wish. Flicking through her magic memory book, she recollects some of the big dreams she has made come true over the years.
Peering at us over her diamante Dame Edna-style spectacles, Le Gateau Chocolat’s Effie is the most fabulous of fairy godmothers. Her idea of casual is a gold sequinned jumpsuit with coordinating glittery Crocs.
Sashaying her way through a series of stories inspired by familiar narratives (a boy who wants to fly, the young woman desperate to go to a ball), Effie brings each tale to life through song, some quick-as-a-flash costume changes, and a little bit of audience interaction.
Enchantingly staged, it’s all held together with the lightest of threads – this is a world not so far removed from playtime and dressing-up boxes. As she becomes the characters in her stories, Effie slips on a frilly shrug, pops on an oversized wig or dramatically unfurls a fan. Against a sinuous backdrop of frothily ruched netting, simple projections and colourful lighting conjure up the scene.
Julian Clary, who voices the narration, advises that this is a show for “childrens and others” – but unlike many festive family offerings, it doesn’t go out of its way to pander to us over-7s. Yes, there’s a very subtle Oprah reference (“You get a wish! And you get a wish!”), but there are no knowing winks to overly adult humour.
With its silly, tongue-twisterish names for characters and places, requests to pull a naughty face, and gentle encouragements to join in, I Wish has its young target audience firmly in mind.
Songsmith Seiriol Davies creates a collection of catchy tunes – including the irresistibly punchy final number “The Power of a Fairy”. Listen out too for his delightfully leftfield lyrical list of things (carpets, really?) that excite adults, as seen through the disdainful rolling-eyes of a child.
Le Gateau Chocolat is in fine voice. After creating the show with Davies and director Rachel Bagshaw, illness prevented him performing in the original London run, and this is the first time he has shimmied into the role of Effie.
While the character of Effie is distinctly larger-than-life, there’s an approachable warmth to Le Gateau Chocolat’s performance, and a touching ability to gently engage with members of the audience – who, unphased by close proximity to a fairy godmother, have no qualms about voicing suggestions for a ballgown or deciding to have a closer look at a sparkly bit of costume.
Ultimately, Effie has an epiphany (aka an ‘eff-ipany’) and decides that the world might be better off if we all had the power to transform our own lives. After all, what self-respecting fairy tale doesn’t have an underlying message. However, I suspect that I Wish’s young fans will be more caught up in just enjoying the show’s kind-hearted, joyful sparkle – and who could blame them?
HOME.
Performance seen on 29 November 2024.
I Wish runs at HOME, Manchester from 29 November to 8 December 2024.
Images by Shirlaine Forrest.
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