REVIEW: SAVE THE PRINCESS at The Hen and Chickens Theatre until 22 February 2025

‘High tech, humour and fast-paced dialogue are used to explore issues within the gaming industry.’ ★★★★

A Princess is about to get married off to someone she doesn’t want to but, this time, she’s had enough. It’s a groundhog day feeling that she no longer wants to be a part of: kidnapped, rescued, kidnapped and rescued again—if she’s lucky. What is it with having to marry men she has no interest in? Cue an audience of smart phone wielding players who might just be able to change her narrative. Princess Plum, the saccharine damsel in distress for theatre company ‘The Undisposables’ completely immersive and absorbing game play theatre Save the Princess may begin life as a robotic Barbie but, as the plot/game unfolds, she becomes tougher and rises to the occasion—that being, to rewrite her destiny. Armed with new language, including, hilariously the word “shit” taught to her by a hunky cowboy, she is ready to take on anything—she has become less virtual girly princess and more, well, human, albeit still trapped within the roles written for female characters. But, that’s where we come in. 

 A small black-box theatre above a cosy pub in Islington is perhaps an unlikely venue for such a high tech performance involving gamified projection designed to respond to the answers chosen by audience members, each response leading to a new ‘world’ and outcome for our protagonist. The worlds we enter are all enjoyably inspired by the much-loved worlds of well-known Nintendo and video games but don’t fear, regardless of how much of a gamer you are (or were), the premise of this show will hook you in regardless. Alongside the impressive technical feats which allow for easy audience interaction through their own smart phones there are also three live performers who respond with seamless fluency to the routes dictated to them by their audience. Considering that this play includes 15 different worlds and 6 possible endings resulting in a completely different show every single night, this liveness is a task and a feat impressively mastered by the cast of three: Esther Joy Mackay (Princess Plum), Grace Hussey-burd and Gabrielle Pausey. Our main character, in search of her right to harness the infamous ‘main character energy’ is joined onstage by a host of recognisable characters all inspired, once again, by games old and new and played with skilful versatility by Hussey-burd and Pausey. Meanwhile, Esther Joy-Mackay’s script explores through humour and fast-paced dialogue important issues alive within the gaming industry and beyond; that is gender representation and control, or the illusion of. Princess Plum is under the impression that she is finally choosing her own path, finding her way to the illusive ‘code’ in order to become something beyond a side character in “the hero’s journey”. The truth however is that that power lies in the hands of the audience. The unavoidable question then is, will that power be used well (causing chaos and destruction was definitely a tempting option when playing god)? and, when out of the four walls of the theatre—do we really live our lives as we want to and, if not, who controls us? 

Save the Princess is on in The Hen and Chickens Theatre until the 22nd of February. Do yourself a favour and get yourself a ticket. 

SAVE THE PRINCESS

The Hen and Chickens Theatre, Islington

10 – 22 February

Box Office https://www.unrestrictedview.co.uk/save-the-princess-2/ 

Creative team: 

CAST:

PRINCESS PLUM - Esther Joy Mackay

FROGGY, MOLLY, JAMIE, ROB TOON, OTHERS - Grace Hussey-Burd

UNITY, ARCHER, CLARA, FOXY, OTHERS - Gabrielle Pausey

TUTORIAL VOICE OVER - Hannah Whyman

GUNNAR VOICE OVER - Josh Sissons

CREW:

WRITER - Esther Joy Mackay

ORIGINAL SOUND COMPOSITION & DESIGN - Tom Triggs

AV DESIGN - Esther Joy Mackay 

LIGHTING DESIGN - Grace Hussey-Burd

SENIOR WEB APP DEVELOPER - Robert Mackay

FRONT END WEB APP DEVELOPER - Vev Gaunt

WEB APP & LIGHTING OPERATION - Matthew Galvin

SOUND & AV OPERATION - Tom Triggs

PRODUCER - Esther Joy Mackay

DIRECTOR - Directed by the company