This musical is based on the old B movie, The Forbidden Planet, which was itself loosely based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The action takes place on the Star Ship Albatross, which is under the control of Captain Tempest. Following a violent asteroid storm, the ship is forced to land on a strange but lovely planet, on which live an exiled scientist, Prospero and his beautiful daughter Miranda. Prospero tells Tempest that he was tricked into going to the planet by his estranged wife Gloria, just as he was on the point of perfecting his new mind expanding drug. It then emerges that Gloria is the new star ship science officer, but has disappeared. When she reappears, fleeing from a monster, she confronts Prospero and tells him that she deliberately sent him away because of the dangers of his mind drug and that monsters are being created by his unconscious mind. Recognising the truth of this, Prospero sends everyone else away while he stays on the planet, which is now breaking up. With his death, the monsters disappear and the planet, created by his imagination, also ceases to exist.
The young cast play their parts very enthusiastically and clearly enjoy participating in the musical. Apart from acting and singing, members of the cast also move to the back of the stage, pick up guitars and other musical instruments and join in with the orchestra. Audience participation is also required at one stage, and the cast spread out through the audience to make sure that everyone joins in. This is not a musical to be taken too seriously.
The singing is a little rough at times, but the orchestra’s playing is very good. Overall, a very enjoyable production.
[Alan Chorley]
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