Review: The Ugly Sisters at Northern Stage

The Ugly Sisters  Northern Stage 22nd October 2013-10-22


Cinderella was the poor down trodden girl who was bullied by her evil ugly sisters. Or was she? Have they been misrepresented? It’s time to settle that score!

Rash Dash are the hugely engaging Abi Greenland and Helen Gaolen and they start the show as the poor ugly sisters who have been in rehab. Quickly the story moves back to the blissful experience of life as 8 year old non-identical twins living in a squat. Marking their territory and letting people take shelter from the rain in a car that no longer works for 50p. Their Mum, Ruby, meets a man and they all move in with him and his daughter, Arabella. In their quest to marry the prince they go on TV and things start to go very wrong.

This musical is driven by three members of Not Bernard Now who not only have to swap instruments but they have to make cameo appearances as Ruby, the Prince and Cinders herself. The pumping music oscillates between jazz and punk but always with attitude.  The songs add the narrative to the performance whilst Abi and Helen strut, dance and pout around the stage. Their energy is infectious and the songs amusing. By the end one can only feel empathy for the siblings who have clearly had bad press from the pro-Cinderella factions. The sinister cabaret has succeeded.

Ugly Sisters finishes in Newcastle’s Northern Stage on the 23rd October at 8pm before moving to Ipswich on the 10th November.
Recommended Age: 14+
Running time: 1 hour
Newcastle Tickets: £14.50 / £12 concessions – cheaper still when bought as part of a multibuy deal
Ipswich Tickets: £15, £10, £8.50

Words: Stephen Oliver

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